CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The superintendent of Clay County public schools has issued a warning about some dangerous trends that have been linked to teenage suicides.
Clay County Public Schools Superintendent Addison Davis sent out a letter this week alerting parents to television shows and social media challenges that may encourage either hurting oneself or committing suicide.
The two things Clay County Superintendent Addison Davis mentioned in his letter to parents are the TV show “13 Reasons Why” and a lesser known social media post he referred to as the “blue whale Challenge.”
News4Jax started getting reports about the issue last month when a mother said her son was committed for psychiatric evaluation after learning about the Netflix show, where a teen suicide is highlighted.
The blue whale challenge is a 50-day social media dare encouraging teens to complete a list of tasks ranging from self-mutilation to, eventually, committing suicide.
“I guess it doesn’t surprise me with some of the shows that are out there,” one Clay County resident said. “It doesn’t surprise me because, in society, things have gotten pretty creepy for me.”
The parents News4Jax spoke with said they were scared by the warning. Clay County parent Catherine Mercer said it’s hard to always monitor what children are watching and doing online.
“A lot of parents work, or they’re in school themselves, so it’s hard to watch every little thing your child does,” Mercer said.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith, who used to be a school resource officer for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, said it’s critical for teens and parents to track anyone who may be affected by the controversial Netflix show or has participated in the blue whale challenge.
“It can be difficult for school resource officers to keep track of, especially online problems,” Smith said. “Now the school resource officer needs to keep up on the latest trend in the country, even if it may not be happening in their school.”
Smith said it’s not only permissible but advisable for parents to know everything their teens are doing online.