13 Reasons Why consultant: Producers were concerned with studies tying an uptick in suicide to the show

The Atlantic

Dr. Christine Moutier of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was first brought aboard as a consultant on the Netflix series after Season 1, helping to create the parents and educators website 13ReasonsWhy.info. She offered some insight into Netflix's decision this week to remove Hannah's graphic Season 1 suicide scene after two years. Moutier says cutting the scene is a "big deal" because children who were too young to watch two years ago would be watching in preparation for Season 3. She adds that the mixed results of the studies were especially concerning. Moutier also gets why it was difficult for the writers to change their minds. “The instincts that create the most highly engaging entertainment tend to be highly dramatic, fast-moving, sensational, and emotional,” Moutier said. “And some of that absolutely comes into conflict with issues of suicide contagion.”