Denver, Colo., Jun 7, 2019 / 04:00 pm (CNA).- When the Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why’, which features teen suicide, first aired in 2017, mental health professionals expressed concerns that the show could have a contagion effect, triggering an increase in suicides among teens inspired by the show.
A new study suggests these fears were not unfounded. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, United States youth ages 10-17 had a 28.9% increase in suicide rates in young males in the month (April 2017) following the debut of the show.
“The number of deaths by suicide recorded in April 2017 was greater than the number seen in any single month during the five-year period examined by the researchers,” the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reported. Increases in suicide rates among youth were also found in the month leading up to the shows release, and through December 2017, nine months after its release.
KAFF News
Man Arrested In Connection With Statue Damage At St. Germaine Catholic Church
A suspect has been arrested in connection with vandalism to statues at St. Germaine Catholic Church in Prescott Valley. Police were called to the church in the 79-hundred block of East Dana Drive back on February 9th. Witnesses say a male suspect hit a statue with his skateboard, causing damage. Then on February 23rd, an unidentified teenager broke out six windows at the church by throwing rocks. Police arrested a 23-year-old Prescott Valley male Saturday and has been booked on aggravated criminal damage. Police say no other suspects are being sought in connection with the crimes.