If you’re reading this, you have probably watched, started watching, or heard of the show 13 Reasons Why. However, if you are one of the few who falls under none of those categories, let me give you a short summary.

13 Reasons Why is about a girl [Hannah Baker] who commits suicide. Instead of leaving a note, she leaves thirteen tapes for select people to listen to, and to understand how they played a role in her life and in her death.

It breaches sensitive topics, and forces us to watch how fragile life is.

With that in mind, here are 13 reasons why this show is important.

1. Bullying within school

A topic that seems so obvious, yet still goes unrecognized today. Bullying is not a joke. Bringing someone down for the sake of your benefit, is not funny. Words hurt, and what may seem like nothing to you could mean everything to someone else.

2. Stereotypes

Yes, there are stereotypes within this show, but if you think about it, high school is one giant stereotype. The jokes are always the cool kids, the ones that if you went to my high school, were always getting in trouble. Girls would backstab, boys would harass. That’s the way it goes, and if we choose to neglect that, we choose to neglect an important theme not only in the show, but in our lives as well.

3. LGBTQ+

A big part of one of Hannah’s tapes, has to do with an individual struggling to accept their sexuality. They’re afraid of backlash, of bullying, and of not being accepted. This is 2017, this should not be happening anymore. If someone is gay, then that’s that. Judging someone based on who they love is ridiculous.

4. Parenting

This is not to say that all parents within the show, and within the world, are bad. It simply acts as a wake up call to those who maybe aren’t the most present. Be involved in your children’s lives, be active, be present, notice when something goes wrong because you are the people who ground them most. You are the people your children expect to be there for them.

5. Relationship Abuse

On numerous accounts throughout the show, we can see the theme of both mental and physical relationship abuse (whether the individuals are dating or simply just friends). Learn the signs, learn that it is not okay to be treated like that, and find a way out.

6.Peer Pressure

Another seemingly obvious topic, however, one many many people still succumb too. Peer pressure is never a reason to do something, nor is it ever an excuse.

7. Drinking

Yes, I know, kids are going to drink no matter what; however, when individuals begin to drink at school or begin to drink it order to forget/avoid issues, that’s when the real problems occur. Alcoholism is a very, very real thing, and it tends to begin at that age.

8. Domestic Abuse

A more minor, yet still present, theme within the show is domestic abuse. This is an issue many individuals live with, however many are afraid to speak up about it. If there are rumors going around that an individual is living in an unsafe situation, it is up to you to help reach out to authorities, or someone capable of removing that person.

9. Stalking

It may not happen to everyone, but stalking is a very real, and very detrimental thing. Stalking someone and in turn messing with their life, is not okay. It is illegal, and can result in jail time.

10. Safe Spaces

Or in the show’s case, the lack of safe spaces. Multiple times, Hannah tried to reach out and find a place where she was free to be herself, and every time someone or something ruined that for her. Every individual needs somewhere they can go in order to be themselves, and yet for some, they don’t exist - even at home.

11. Friendship

Having or not having friends can make a world of difference. Accepting or rejecting someone can make the world of difference. Friends are people who are supposed to be there and accept you for you, however when they reject and ignore you, the loneliness is suffocating. Being a good friend is not hard, and you have no idea how much of an impact it makes.

12. Sexual Assault

A heavy, triggering topic, but an immensely important one. Being taken advantage of, whether it’s through unwanted touching, sex, etc. is never okay. It is one of the worst things you can do to someone, and it happens to both boys and girls. Sexually taking advantage of someone is not something you get to joke about with your friends, nor is it ever something to be proud of. When you do that to another person, you take away something they can never get back, and you’ve affected them in a way that they can never be the same again.

13. Suicide

Lastly, and most prominent, is suicide. Suicide is not a joke. It is not something that can be taken lightly, and it is certainly not something you can ignore. About one million people commit suicide each year. One million. Suicide is real, and in order to begin tackling this issue, you need to learn the signs, and you need to learn how to help. No one deserves to die, especially with the mindset that they are alone and unloved.

It’s time to start speaking out.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673