Is 13 Reasons Why actually trying to be helpful, or are they just doing things because they can?

WARNING: THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
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13 Reasons Why is a television show that’s supposed to “start a conversation” about rape and suicide. I’m not done with the second season, but I’ve heard there is a school shooting scene, 2 suicides, and, most disturbing, a scene where a high schooler gets a mop handle shoved up his butt. I’ve seen this scene, and it is about a minute long and very graphic and detailed.
The first season even showed the girl killing herself (cutting her wrists) in detail, with her in the bathtub, all that.
I’ve heard that the show talked to Mental health professionals to get advice on how to approach these things.
I do not think that what they are doing is what the professionals suggested. It’s too graphic. Who thinks “Let’s target a show for teens in high school, and show multiple rapes, murder, and suicides, that’ll start a good conversation!”?
Seems like they are doing this for attention. I don’t understand why else they would be doing this.