Suicide-Related Internet Searches Elevated After Debut of "13 Reasons Why"

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Internet searches for suicide-related terms were elevated following the release of the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," according to a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine. The series is centered on a fictional adolescent's suicide, which is shown in the season finale.

Researchers examined internet search queries for "suicide" in the 19 days after the series premiered in March and compared them with predicted search volumes had the series never aired. For 12 of the days, suicide searches were 15%–44% higher than expected. Most of the increased searches were related to suicidal ideation, such as "how to commit suicide."

Both the authors and editorialists say producers should have promoted suicide prevention programs, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, before and after episodes.

The editorialists advocate for screening youth for suicidal thoughts during primary care visits. They note that Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment is an evidence-based approach for substance misuse that could also be applied to suicide prevention.