If there’s one thing that 13 Reasons Why has gotten people talking about, it’s suicide. And let’s face it, that’s a conversation that needed to start.
But it’s not just everyday people and the characters portrayed in the show that deal with thoughts of suicide and mental health. Actors too, even ones part of the show, have dealt with these struggles.
Justin Prentice, who magnificently portrays our most-hated character Bryce Walker, is opening up about how own mental health issues.
“When I was a kid, I was very much a perfectionist, and I had a bunch of different compulsions. And so through all of that I had high anxiety and high stress, so I did, actually,” he said about having suicidal thoughts when he was younger.
So, how did he deal with such horrifying thoughts?
“I brought it up with my mother because I was very fortunate to be close with my parents,” he told Variety at the Monte Carlo TV Festival yesterday. “And she was instrumental in helping me through it, which was awesome.”
Justin admits that he feels personally connected with the show, as he went through something so similar in high school.
He explained, “A buddy of mine took his life in high school; [there were] similarities [with the show’s storyline] there. There are some people very close to me who were sexually assaulted or raped when they were young.
“It’s hard sometimes to jump in and out of [such scenes],” he continued. “Sometimes after the very dark scenes it kind of stays with you for a little bit. But the cast…we are all a big family, so we will usually get together after the very dark scenes and just decompress, and take a breather for a second, and all have each other’s backs, which is nice.”
If you, or someone you know needs help, speak confidentially to a trained counsellor 24 hours a day:
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
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