In 2007, Jay Asher published book Thirteen Reasons Why, in which main character Hannah essentially tells her story behind her suicide through the use of audio recordings. Two years ago, when I purchased the Kindle Version of this book, I had never heard much about anyone reading, nor promoting this story; However, after Netflix recently released their Netflix Original Series version just this last month, America went into an uproar, giving the story and the meaning behind it the publicity it should have gotten years ago. Netflix’s depiction of Asher’s book is seemingly incredible in terms of what it has to society, or it is

Individuals from differing generations and viewpoints on mental illness and negative effects it comes with, are now aware that the words and actions of others truly hurt, and have severe consequences even if those consequences do not directly affect them. These individuals are now concerned about the thoughts that roam in the heads of those who look perfect on the outside, but may battling demons on the inside. More people are now more concerned with putting an end to the ever-growing suicide rates, and have begun to become more aware. Society finally cares.

Unfortunately, there are still people who ignorant to this. I cannot even begin to think of the number of times I have scrolled through Twitter and read “Hannah, like others did this for attention,” “Hannah is blaming everyone but herself,” or the current trending meme

Despite the seriousness and the attention this show has gained, the message behind remains a joke. People still blame the one struggling, rather than taking the time to think of what it may be like in their head, or walking in their shoes. Instead, the shame and the jokes continue, proving that while society is beginning to shift in the right direction, that it may never be where it could potentially be because there are still people out there putting others down.

We have been fighting YEARS to promote awareness, and some of us have spent YEARS fighting and HIDING our own demons due to fear of being put down further. There are on average, 121 suicides per day…per day, and while it took a Netflix show to make this statistic real, the message remains weak and ineffective.

13 Reasons Why gives the silent a voice and awareness to an important cause, yet proves how terribly America has failed as a society. It should have not taken a Netflix show to prove that this is real; Society should have recognized the epidemic of suicide and did something about it then, and with it receiving attention now, society should stop blaming and fighting against the victims and fight for them.

And that starts within ourselves. That starts with changing how we treat others. Then, and only then, will things change.