It’s Ok Not to Be Ok: Sip of Hope Coffee Bar
October is Depression Awareness Month, a cause near and dear to my heart. In addition to the many friends and family I know who have struggled, I’ve been learning to cope with depression myself the last few years. About half the people diagnosed with depression also struggle with anxiety, something I had never experienced until about a year ago. Even after successful cancer treatment, the continuous biopsies and fear of relapse took a hard toll on me mentally and emotionally.
Unlike most illnesses, mental health is something people rarely talk about openly. I had an aunt and a grandmother who both dealt with mental health concerns when I was growing up. Nobody in my family talked about it though so I didn’t even realize it until I was an adult. Because it was something that was largely hidden in my family, many of my family members don’t know how to cope today. The biggest impact my mom has had on my own battle with depression is being open to the conversations and actively asking questions, learning how best she can help.
When I first learned about Sip of Hope, I knew this was a coffee shop I needed to visit. Located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Sip of Hope is a collaboration between Hope for the Day and Dark Matter Coffee. 100 percent of net proceeds are used to support mental health education and proactive suicide prevention. The first thing you see when you enter the coffee shop are free local and national mental health resources. Baristas are specially trained to take the conversation beyond a simple inquiry about your drink order. Depression doesn’t discriminate so Sip of Hope seeks to open up the dialogue and give people a safe space where it’s ok not to be ok. They also serve the best chai tea latte I’ve ever had!
Hope for the Day was founded by Jonny Boucher after his boss and mentor in the music industry took his own life. Jonny had lost many other friends and family members to suicide, leaving him wanting to find a way to not only honor those he had lost but also to help others who were vulnerable in the fight against mental illness. Hope for the Day began as local outreach in music venues whenever possible. The response was so strong, Hope for the Day has now grown into a dedicated team engaging people in schools, businesses, community centers and now, a coffee shop.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by depression, anxiety or other mental health factors and you’d like to get involved, Hope for the Day provides more personalized resources here.
