Viola Startzman Clinic and Anazao link primary care and mental health in Holmes County

Bridging the gap between primary care and mental health services in Holmes County, the Viola Startzman Clinic is launching a new initiative on Oct. 15, connecting primary care and mental health services in the county. In collaboration with Anazao Community Partners, VSC will offer primary care services at Anazao’s Holmes County office, 7368 County Highway 623, Millersburg.

Initially, primary care services will be offered in person on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be options for telehealth and mental health visits scheduled throughout the week based on provider availability.

According to VSC Executive Director Mark Yoder, behavioral health needs in Holmes County are higher than ever. There are approximately 6,324 residents for every one mental health care provider in the county, ranking it at No. 1 in Ohio for the worst provider-to-resident ratio.

“This chronic shortage forces many residents to leave the county for care,” Yoder said, “presenting significant obstacles, particularly for the Amish community, where transportation can be a serious barrier.”

People will now have access to counseling, case management and psychiatric services — all coordinated in one location, instead of needing to travel to two or three different places. For those facing transportation barriers, case managers and community health workers will help.

“Families here are incredibly strong and deeply connected,” said Mark Woods, executive director of Anazao. “But that also means struggles can be multidimensional and generational. We want to honor those strengths by ensuring the full range of care is available locally, without residents needing to travel outside the county.”

At the heart of this initiative is Zeb Beam, a family nurse practitioner who will lead care at the Millersburg location. Beam, a Holmes County native who was raised Amish, brings cultural insight and trust.

“(Beam’s) roots enable him to connect deeply with patients, offering reassurance and delivering preventative care and mental health services in a manner that respects and honors Amish values,” Yoder said.

“I see my background as a strength in caring for patients, especially within the Amish community,” Beam said. “I understand their values, traditions and hesitations. My goal is to bridge this gap, promoting both preventative health and mental health awareness in a way that is respectful and culturally sensitive.”

How did this partnership come about?

“We’ve been doing intentional strategic planning around how to be more responsive to the unique needs of Holmes County," Woods said. "One of the biggest gaps we’ve identified is timely access to psychiatric support — medication management for behavioral health concerns — as well as medical care for co-occurring physical health needs. Viola Startzman was also looking for a supportive setting for counseling and case management for their clients. Since our staff were already cross-referring, it felt natural to explore how we could better serve the community together.”

Woods said the agencies provide services that complement each other well.

“(Startzman) provides psychiatry, medication management and medical care while Anazao provides counseling and case management in both outpatient and community-based settings,” Woods said. “Many clients were already seeking services from both organizations. This partnership now brings those services under one roof.”

Through collaboration and cultural sensitivity, the Viola Startzman Clinic and Anazao Community Partners are fostering a healthier, more connected Holmes County, where access to care and respect for long-held traditions go hand in hand.

“I want to emphasize,” Woods said, “this is a true partnership. As much as it’s about bringing Viola Startzman Clinic into Holmes County, it’s also about Anazao living out our commitment to be responsive, collaborative and reliable in supporting the behavioral health needs of our community.”

“This partnership with Anazao allows us to extend our mission further,” Yoder said. “By bringing care directly into the heart of the community, we can better serve people — body, mind and spirit.”

For appointments call 330-262-2500 and ask to schedule in Holmes County. Walk-ins will be taken based on availability. Limited hours will be expanded as needed if the pilot program succeeds. Questions can be emailed to myoder@startzmanclinic.org.

For a mental health emergency, call the Holmes-Wayne 24-hour crisis response team at 330-845-4357 or call or text the suicide lifeline at 988.