“Shortland Street” has met mixed reactions online on its episode featuring a suicide attempt by one of its characters.

In the episode aired on Thursday, 15-year-old Kane Jenkins, played by KJ Apa, tried to kill himself. His depression over being abused online has become too much for him to bear, and thus he has attempted suicide. He was discovered later on in the garage while a car’s engine was running.

The show has advised viewers about the turn in the story days ahead so they could decide for themselves if they wanted to watch the episode or not. Executive producer Simon Bennett also said that the episode would not end in a cliffhanger, with Kane surviving the ordeal at the end of the episode.

As preparation for any fallout that the episode would bring, the primetime soap’s cast and crew were advised on what to do if they are contacted for help.

The show worked with the Mental Health Foundation as well to make sure that the storyline would be tackled as safely as possible.

“The Mental Health Foundation worked with the writers and producers of Shortland Street to ensure the storyline about depression and suicide is told as safely as possible. However, we know that some people will find these episodes distressing,” Taranaki DHB Community and Addictions Services Manager Jo Van Leeuwen said in a statement.

Shortly after the episode has aired, viewers of the show have taken to social media to express what they thought of the suicide storyline. Some of them have praised the show for tackling the issue properly, although there are also those who thought the producers went too far for showing the method of Kane’s suicide attempt.

@ShortlandTweet u addressed this issue with so much class. It was so powerful. WOW WOW WOW

— dawn nelson (@19tinkerbell71) October 2, 2014

A boy at my school did exactly that, it was so sad and confusing no one really talked about it. Good on u #shortlandstreet — Brigette ✨ (@BrigM) October 2, 2014

To be fair, #shortlandstreet DIDN'T show exactly how Kane did it, they only showed the car and the garage - and rightly so. Well done, guys. — Tricia (@trixxification) October 2, 2014

I'm sorry. But. Tonights episode of #ShortlandStreet was weak. Not well thought-out. And less informative than you would have hoped. #Bad. — Allan (@AlmightyAllan) October 2, 2014

@ShortlandTweet That was one extremely poor episode. Never attempt at that type of story if you aren't going to commit properly. — Allan (@AlmightyAllan) October 2, 2014

Don't think #shortlandstreet should have shown method of attempted suicide. — Jemima Lomax (@jemimalomax) October 2, 2014

“Shortland Street,” meanwhile, has posted the Suicide Crisis Line numbers for people who were affected by the episode.

If you have been affected by tonight's episode of #ShortlandStreet ,there are places you can go. pic.twitter.com/vzcw9jxI5J — Shortland Street (@ShortlandTweet) October 2, 2014