13 Reasons Why season 2 confirmed by Netflix as Mental Health Awareness Week begins

The series centres on a 17-year-old high school student who dies by suicide

Netflix has confirmed that 13 Reasons Why will return for a second season.

The controversial drama, which is based on Jay Asher's 2007 novel of the same name, centres on a 17-year-old high school student Hannah Baker who dies by suicide, leaving behind 13 cassette tapes for 13 different people she felt were instrumental in her decision to take her own life.

It recently became apparent that the series would be given a renewal by the streaming service after becoming the most-discussed show on social media, perhaps aided by the much-publicised debate by mental health organisations which criticised its inclusion of the graphic suicide at the centre of the series or the reports that US schools sent out letters to parents warning them about the show's content.

Following the criticism, Netflix defended the series telling ABC News in a statement: “From the onset of work on 13 Reasons Why, we have been mindful both of the show's intense themes and the intended audience.”

The season two renewal arrives at the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week (8-14 May).

Season two will consist of another 13 episodes which will debut on Netflix in 2018 under the guide of showrunner Brian Yorkey. The series stars Katherine Langford as Baker, Dylan Minnette, Mark Pellegrino and Kate Walsh.