Rising psychiatric admissions in Switzerland linked to Netflix series

Around 40 young people have been admitted to a psychiatric clinic in Zurich after watching the controversial Netflix television series 13 Reasons Why, according to RTS.

The series, launched in March 2017, tells the fictional story of a 17 year old who leaves behind recordings explaining why she took her own life.

Zurich hospital says it has admitted around 40 adolescents who had attempted suicide after watching the series.

HUG, a hospital in Geneva, has witnessed a similar rise in youth psychiatric admissions.

Research has found a link between attempted suicide and its glorification, and numerous psychiatric experts around the world have criticized the show for doing this.

In New Zealand, the nation with the highest rate of youth suicide in the OECD, the authorities created a new RP18 rating for the series. RP18 allows anyone over the age of 18 to watch it alone but anyone below this age is only allowed to watch it with a parent or guardian.

One criticism is centred on the show’s negative portrayal of the medical treatment of psychological conditions behind suicide. Parts of the series shed these in poor light. Medical organisations, such as the US Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology think this undermines evidence showing that depression and suicide can be effectively treated by qualified mental health professionals.

• Suicide leading cause of death among Swiss youth (Le News)

Earlier this year, a youth suicide prevention group, highlighted the issue of adolescent suicide in Switzerland. In 2015, 2.5 times as many young people died from suicide as from car accidents.

Netflix has responded to the criticism by adding a warning card and a video that plays at the start of each season warning viewers about its themes. However, like health warnings on cigarettes, not everyone will follow them.

More on this:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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