YORK COUNTY — By now, you’ve likely heard of the Netflix original series, “13 Reasons Why,” a show based on the 2007 book of the same name by author Jay Asher.

The show is incredibly popular, and also very controversial and it was announced earlier this week the show — which depicts the aftermath of a teenage girl’s suicide — will return for a second season.

But the series is causing quite a stir among local school officials, several of whom have sent notices home to parents warning them that the show may have negative effects on their children if they are vulnerable.

Katie Hawes, superintendent of Regional School Unit 21, which covers Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel, issued a letter to parents on April 27 urging parents to take an active role in their children’s media habits.

“As a school district, we have recently become aware of a publication and mini-series that is causing concerns across the country. We are sending you this message to ensure that as parents, you are aware of this and can take the steps needed for your child(ren),” the letter said. “It has been reported that this publication may have a detrimental effect on young people, including those most vulnerable.”

Saco Superintendent Dominic DePatsy issued the same letter to parents on Monday, including a list of suggestions from the National Association of School Psychologists regarding the show.

The most important thing for parents to know, said Jenna Mehnert, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, Maine, is to be firm, but “not freak out.”

“Ask, ‘What made you choose to watch that?’” she said Tuesday. “The research has all said (talking about suicide) opens the door and reduces someone’s stress. If you say, ‘Are you thinking of killing yourself?’ then someone says, ‘I can now talk.’”

Mehnert said her organization’s primary concern over the show is its graphic depiction of suicide, and it’s perceivably one-sided discussion around the topic.

“The concern we have is it is absolutely too graphic in nature for what we’re comfortable related with a conversation on suicide,” she said. “Our concern is that parents know, are aware that it’s there and have a conversation with their child if their child is wanting to watch it. That is absolutely our position.”

Mehnert said the show’s often graphic imagery can trigger adolescents who may be vulnerable to the serious topic of suicide.

“Your (suicide) risk traumatically increases if your parent, friend or hero dies by suicide,” she said.

According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 630 suicide deaths in Maine — an average of 210 suicides per year — from 2010 to 2012. That puts Maine’s suicide rate for people ages 10 and older at 17.7 per 100,000. That’s higher than the national average of 14.6.

Of those, 75 suicide deaths were among people ages 24 and under, putting suicide as the second-leading cause of death among Maine youth ages 15-24. Of those 75 who committed suicide, 90 percent had an underlying mental illness, according to the CDC.

While Mehnert says it’s good “13 Reasons Why” has brought the serious issue of suicide to light, she also said the show fails to provide better ways of addressing mental illness, particularly suicide, which she said is preventable.

“There is value and sort of connecting to what young people are feeling,” she said. “The challenge is that it’s too graphic and glorifies (suicide) and makes it seem like it’s the only solution.”

A statement from NAMI Maine said the same.

“The good news is that the show has generated a much needed conversation about the issue of suicide and what stresses and events might lead someone to the point where taking their own life becomes a real option,” the statement read.“The concerning news is the way the issue has been presented.”

“The issue of suicide in the lives of teens is real and must be discussed. It must be addressed in a safe and supportive way and teens must be included in the conversation,” the statement continued. “The series presents an opportunity for parents and other caring adults to have conversations with the teens in their life about the stresses they face, the risk of suicide and how to access help.”

Forefront, a partnership between several University of Washington schools dedicated to suicide prevention, provides talking points for parents and children to discuss.

“People who take their own life do not want to die. They want to end pain,” the website says.

The website says when talking to children it’s important to stress that suicide is not a solution to one’s problems, nor is it unhealthy to discuss such problems.

Biddeford School Superintendent Jeremy Ray said he agreed.

“Like anything that is controversial and that parents are aware of, it definitely is something parents and students should watch together and have conversations about,” Ray said Tuesday. “It’s a very important sensitive subject that has many facets from what I’ve been able to view myself.”

Ray, who said he’s partway into the series, said the show does address several important issues facing teens today — including not only suicide but rape and peer pressure — but should still be watched with parents or guardians to encourage discussion.

He said students in Biddeford schools are encouraged to form close relationships with specific faculty members throughout their education, in order to build trust should students face adversity and need help.

“What we want kids to do is reach out to that adult they have a relationship with in our building and bring the concerns to them so we can appropriately find the correct resources to work with the students and the family,” he said.

Mehnert cautioned that the show only depicts one side of suicide’s complicated story, highlighting only the act and aftermath of one’s death, but not ways in which help and prevention can be sought out.

“(The show) doesn’t aid the discussion,” she said. “It shows the struggle — that can be enlightening, but left alone it’s almost more dangerous than enlightening.”

Mehnert stressed that suicide is preventable with help. If you are concerned about yourself or about somebody else, call the Maine Crisis Hotline at 888-568-1112, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). You can also chat online with a crisis counselor on the Lifeline Crisis Chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/gethelp/lifelinechat.aspx.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.