Causes and Effects of Adolescent Suicide: Thirteen Reasons Why Gianna Santoro 11th Grade

In society, many problems are often ignored and stigmatized. Among these are suicide and mental health issues. These dilemmas have become more common to talk about in recent years; however, society as a whole still has a long way to go in understanding these complicated occurrences. Because of this, it is surprising to many that suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 10-24 (Pytash). In the popular young adult novel Thirteen Reasons Why, a girl named Hannah Baker leaves behind thirteen audio tapes before she commits suicide, with each tape addressed to a specific person and explaining how that individual played a role in her death. The book focuses heavily on why she took her own life, with some of the main reasons being bullying, harassment, and self-hate. It also shows how people are affected by suicide, through the point of view of a boy named Clay Jensen, who had a crush on Hannah and received a tape. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher brings many issues to light and guides the reader through the causes and effects of suicide. It exemplifies how seemingly harmless situations can spiral out of control and lead to someone’s death. All of these issues are extremely relevant and common in today’s society,...