PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) — Calm Source, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health, behavioral health, and addiction support, is expanding its services to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in response to growing local demand. The nonprofit, which has been serving the community since 2015 in Danville, aims to address a gap in services for rural residents who face challenges in accessing care.
Addressing Rural Mental Health and Addiction Needs
Leon Zimmermann, Calm Source’s Director of Operations, emphasized the importance of expanding services to Pittsylvania County, especially for those who might not have easy access to care in rural areas. “In rural areas, there is a need for services, but a lot of people don’t know where to go, and transportation is a problem,” Zimmermann said. By opening a new office just outside of Chatham along Highway 29, Calm Source hopes to make mental health and addiction treatment more accessible to people who live far from existing resources in Danville and Lynchburg.
A Growing Demand for Services
The organization has seen a steady increase in demand for its services at its Danville location, where they currently serve about 100 patients each week. Zimmermann noted that the need for mental health and addiction services is particularly high in rural communities, where individuals often face barriers such as transportation and limited access to local resources.
To overcome these challenges, Calm Source will offer free transportation for patients to and from the new office, aiming to eliminate one of the major obstacles to treatment. Zimmermann explained, “Transportation is one of the biggest hindrances to treatments, and we’ve learned that over the last few years. So, we try to alleviate that barrier of treatment and provide that transportation to get them to and from.”
Comprehensive Services and Support
The new site, which is set to open on May 1, will offer a full range of services, including personalized addiction treatment plans, counseling, and mental health support. The organization will continue its practice of providing free services to veterans, ensuring that those who have served the country also receive the care they need.
Zimmermann believes that by offering these services closer to home, the new Pittsylvania County office will encourage more people to seek help. “It might also encourage some folks to get that help they need,” he said.
Breaking Down Barriers and Offering Hope
By addressing the rural community’s needs for mental health and addiction services and offering free transportation, Calm Source is helping to break down the barriers that have historically prevented many individuals from seeking care. Their expansion into Pittsylvania County reflects the nonprofit’s ongoing commitment to improving the mental well-being of residents in underserved areas, making critical support more accessible and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health treatment.
With the new office opening soon, Calm Source continues to provide a vital service to those in need, helping them take the first step toward recovery and better mental health.
