FGC #304: 13 Reasons Why (Not) with Dr. Donna Fargason

"....a perfect example of what not to do if someone is having suicidal thoughts." That's quite a strong statement from Dr. Donna Fargason, Child Adolescent Psychiatrist who joins me today to talk about her professional concerns about - and personal exposure to - "13 Reasons Why" , a streaming TV series that targets youth and the issue of suicidality. Donna and I only scratched the surface in our dialogue on this most important topic of suicidality. Our conversation touches on some of the concerns we share about how certain societal/cultural influences (such as a seemingly harmless media program) can potentially affect in a harmful way the thoughts and actions of vulnerable young persons - and mature adults as well. This is only one example. After personally viewing the entire program series, Donna realized that she herself has been traumatized by the overtly graphic content of the program. And while the gravity and impact of the graphic content is perhaps more obvious to some, Donna is quite concerned as well about the more insidious messages that are embedded within the program content - and that parents do not seem to know that children and adolescents are viewing this program.... FOR MORE, VISIT www. stacigulino.com