"Thirteen Reasons Why" is a story originally from a 2007 novel by Jay Asher and later adapted into an American teen drama TV series on Netflix. It centers on the aftermath of the suicide of a high school student named Hannah Baker. Before she died, Hannah recorded a series of cassette tapes explaining the thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. These reasons involve various classmates and individuals who she felt contributed to her despair. The main character, Clay Jensen, one of Hannah's classmates and the story's focal point, receives these tapes and listens to them, uncovering the troubling events and people involved in Hannah's decision. The story addresses heavy themes such as bullying, sexual assault, and mental health struggles among teenagers.
The thirteen specific reasons mentioned in the tapes include incidents like betrayal by friends, harassment, spreading of rumors, stalking, a deeply traumatic event of rape, and inadequate support from school officials. Each reason is linked to a different person who played a role in the chain of events leading to Hannah's tragedy.
The Netflix series ran for four seasons from 2017 to 2020, with the first season closely following the plot of the novel. The series gained both praise and criticism for its portrayal of sensitive topics.
