How to talk about teen suicide

Guests: Guy Diamond, Carolina Hausmann-Stabile, Matthew Wintersteen

The controversial Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, is based on a bestselling young adult novel about a girl who commits suicide after being raped and bullied.  Some have praised the series for its realistic depiction of the teenage life and its frank portrayal of sexual assault and suicide.  But many parents, educators, and mental health professionals worry that the series glamorizes suicide, and could inspire copycats.  Today, we’ll discuss how to recognize kids at risk, what interventions work, and the challenges of talking about suicide without influencing vulnerable adolescents.  Marty’s guests are GUY DIAMOND, associate professor at Drexel University and director of Family Intervention Science, CAROLINA HAUSMANN-STABILE, assistant professor at the School of Social Work at Temple University, and MATTHEW WINTERSTEEN, associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University and Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative.