Proactively preparing teens and children for 13 Reasons Why, season 2 (Netflix)

By Tracie Dahl, LCPC, Middle School Therapist with Intermountain School-based Services (Helena, MT)

13 Reasons Why is about to drop its second season in just a matter of days. Since Season 2 is no longer adapting Jay Asher's 2007 YA novel and telling a completely new story, as service providers who work with young adults, we would like to know what we can expect from the upcoming string of episodes. We were more reactive than proactive when Season 1 came out and it’s easier to be more proactive whenever possible. Knowing what may be coming is part of that process.

While a big part of the new season is still under wraps, we've gotten a few details of what is coming our way on May 18:

1. No More Suicide

While Season 1 dealt with a number of hot-button issues, at its core, it was about teen suicide and how that might affect a community. Moving forward, showrunner Brian Yorkey confirmed that the new season will not depict suicide onscreen or off at all, although he did clarify that Hannah Baker's death does continue to be a central part of the story.

2. A New Theme: Sexual Abuse

Yorkey also revealed that with the story of Hannah's suicide having been told, Season 2 will focus on a brand-new controversy: sexual assault at a high school. The first season included two harrowing instances of sexual assault, as it was revealed that school jock Bryce Walker raped both Hannah Baker and Jessica Davis, and both of these women's stories will continue into Season 2. The new season will expand on the topic, focusing on a case of serial sexual assault perpetrated by one of the school's athletic teams. It will also follow Jessica Davis’ story of going from victim to survivor.

3. Bryce's Just Desserts

One of the most frustrating parts of Season 1 was knowing what Bryce did but never seeing him have to pay for his actions. Given the theme of Season 2 and a hint from Netflix last summer that "Bryce will hopefully get what's coming to him," we may finally see Bryce face justice.

4. The Bakers Are Suing The School

The fallout from Hannah's suicide is still very much a driving force in the new season, and Yorkey said that there will be a legal trial that lasts throughout the second season that is pivotal in unraveling a new mystery. The trial is the result of Hannah's parents suing Liberty High School after they have finally heard their daughter's suicide tapes.

5. Polaroids Instead Of Cassette Tapes

Last year, Brian Yorkey teased that Season 2 would employ "a different sort of analog technology" from the cassette tapes at the heart of the first season, and the recently released teaser trailer for Season 2 made it very clear what that analog tech would be: Polaroids. Apparently, a series of ominous Polaroids will provide characters with important details about Hannah or about the high school's sexual assault outbreak, and the mystery surrounding them will be a huge part of Season 2.

6. There Is A New Narrator

With Hannah's suicide taking a backseat in the new season, Netflix has confirmed a different character is taking over the narration duties for Season 2. Although the identity of the new narrator has not yet been revealed, there seem to be two clear standouts as the top possibilities:

• Jessica Davis — Given the season's focus on sexual assault, it seems likely that the show will follow Jessica's story most closely of all.
• Tyler Down — Hannah narrated Season 1 through her cassette tapes, and now that Polaroid photos are the new form of communication in Season 2, it clearly points to resident photographer Tyler as the new narrator, right?

7. Meet The New Characters

With a new mystery and theme, we are also going to meet a ton of new characters in season 2. These include:

• Chloe, a popular cheerleader (played by Anne Winters).
• Cyrus, a rebellious teen who becomes a champion for the downtrodden (played by Bryce Cass).
• Mackenzie, Cyrus' outspoken sister (played by Chelsea Alden).
• Sonya, an ambitious young lawyer (played by Allison Miller).
• Nina, a track star at Liberty High who's hiding a secret (played by Samantha Logan).
• Jackie, an advocate for victims of bullying (played by Kelli O'Hara).
• Rick, Liberty High's beloved basketball coach (played by Ben Lawson).

8. Hannah Is In It

Even though Season 1 was all about her death, Hannah Baker actually will appear in Season 2. This is possible through flashbacks to when Hannah was still alive, which were also a big part of the first season. It is rumored that we will be seeing a “very different Hannah” in the new season.

9. Answers To Pressing Questions

We will learn answers to all the questions left at the end of season 1. We will finally learn more about Alex's suicide attempt, and why Tyler has that secret stash of firearms in his room, and what Mr. Porter is going to do with Hannah's tapes.

Season 2 of 13 Reasons Why  will premiere on Netflix on May 18.

At the school, we are reviewing and revising our procedures for sexual assault disclosure and response to ensure the most empathetic and effective response possible for survivors who may relate to characters on 13 Reasons Why and therefore come forward with their own disclosures of assault and/or sexual abuse. The following is a brief synopsis of highlights of some of the things we’ve discussed:

Sexual assault disclosures

1. Believe the survivor (research shows that how a disclosure is responded to not only helps in not re-traumatizing the survivor but is also a major factor in treatment and recovery)
2. The survivor chose you for a reason. Stay with them and do not ask them to go to/tell someone else.
3. Notify school administration and/or the School Resource Officer
4. Admin and/or the school grade level counselor can help with covering classes and providing direction
5. Listen and do not ask questions other than to assess for immediate safety and to determine the relationship of the perpetrator to the survivor
6. Perpetrators who are family members need to be reported to CPS. If you need help making the report, ask administration, school grade level counselor, or the school-based outpatient therapist.
7. A safe adult support person (parent or guardian) will need to be notified – admin or the school grade level counselor can help with this.

It is helpful to use the term survivor instead of victim. Start now with helping to empower those who have been victimized to see themselves as survivors NOT victims. How we respond and help to shape the cognitive processes makes a big difference.

***One other thing of note in reference to the legal suit against the school: anger and blame is a normal grief response and should be treated as such.