Why We Stand With 988: A Personal Note From Eva
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This isn't a post about coffee or tea. It's not about a sale, a new product, or a promotion. It's about something far more important — and something I've been wanting to say out loud for a long time.
It's Personal
I've lost people. Not in the abstract, distant way that statistics describe — but in the real, gut-wrenching way that leaves a permanent mark on who you are.
I've watched suicide touch the lives of young athletes I cared deeply about. I've lost friends who were here one day and gone the next, with no warning I could see at the time. And most recently, it came even closer — into my own family.
I also live with Suicidal Ideation myself. I say that plainly, not for sympathy, but because I think the silence around it does more damage than the truth. It doesn't go away. It's something you manage, navigate, and carry. Some mornings, the simple act of making a cup of coffee is an act of choosing to stay. That's not poetry — that's my reality.
And if it's yours too, I want you to know: you are not alone in this.
Why We're Supporting 988
When I started Central Plains Tea & Coffee Co, I knew I wanted it to stand for something beyond what's in the cup. I wanted it to be a brand that shows up for people — not just as a business, but as a community.
Supporting 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — felt like the most honest thing I could do. Not because it's trendy or because it's good marketing. But because it's the cause that lives closest to my heart, and because I believe that if even one person reads this and reaches out for help, then this post will have done something that matters.
What Is 988?
In July 2022, the United States launched 988 as a dedicated, easy-to-remember number for mental health crises — a direct line to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Here's what you need to know:
- It's free. No insurance, no cost, no barriers.
- It's confidential. You don't have to give your name.
- It's available 24/7, 365 days a year.
- You can call, text, or chat — whatever feels most accessible to you.
- It's not just for people in immediate crisis. If you're struggling, worried about someone, or just need to talk — 988 is for you.
Trained counselors answer every call and text. They are not there to judge you. They are there to listen.
The Reality Behind the Numbers
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10–34 in the United States. It claims more than 47,000 lives every year — roughly one person every 11 minutes.
In rural communities like ours, the rates are even higher. Geographic isolation, limited access to mental health care, and cultural stigma around asking for help create a dangerous combination. These are our neighbors. Our friends. Our family members.
Warning signs can include:
- Talking about wanting to die or feeling like a burden
- Withdrawing from people and activities they once loved
- Giving away possessions
- Extreme mood changes — sudden calm after a period of depression
- Increased use of alcohol or substances
If you notice these signs in someone you love — say something. Ask directly. Research consistently shows that asking someone if they're thinking about suicide does not plant the idea — it opens a door.
Resources That Can Help
📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988
💬 Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
🌐 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — afsp.org
🌐 988 Lifeline — 988lifeline.org
A Final Word
If you're reading this and today is one of the hard ones — I see you. You don't have to explain it. You don't have to be okay. You just have to stay.
And if you're reading this and you've never struggled yourself — please share this. Text it to someone. Post it. You never know whose life a single conversation might change.
Thank you for being part of this community. It means more than you know.
— Eva Gauthier
Central Plains Tea & Coffee Co