Programming update:
The HLPCA August 2017 program focused on the Netflix fictional account of suicide and the drama "13 Reasons Why". Almost 2 years later, the effect of the drama on teen suicide rates are now evident. Please click on this link to read a story posted just this week by NIH discussing the seeming connection between 13 Reason Why, the media and teen behavior. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/release-13-reasons-why-associated-increase-youth-suicide-rates
The article concludes with "The second season of “13 Reasons Why” was released in May 2018, and a third season is currently in production and is expected to be released sometime this year. The findings from this study should serve as a reminder to be mindful of the possible unintended impacts of the portrayal of suicide, and as a call to the entertainment industry and the media to use best practices when engaging with this topic."