Reflecting Together Forward: Syntero’s Big Table Conversation on 50 Years of Mental Health Evolution and Support

Kelly Galindo
Nov 5
3 min read

Meeting in a room with 12 people seated around tables with autumn-themed tablecloths. Lively discussion, water bottles, and snacks visible.

As part of our 50th Anniversary celebration, Syntero joined The Columbus Foundation’s Big Table 2025 to lead a community conversation on how mental health care has changed—and what still needs to change—since 1975. Together, we looked back, discussed today’s challenges, and imagined a future where everyone’s mental health is valued and supported.

50 Years of Mental Health: Coming Together for Conversation

On October 21, 2025, Syntero hosted a Big Table Talk at our Dublin office as part of The Columbus Foundation’s Big Table—a region-wide day of connection and dialogue. Led by CEO Sara Harrison-Mills, our discussion explored how mental health has evolved since Syntero’s founding in 1975 and how we can continue moving Together Forward toward a healthier, more compassionate future.

We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us, shared their experiences, and leaned into open conversation about the evolution of behavioral health care.

Looking Back: What’s Changed

Deinstitutionalization & Community Care: The 1970s marked a shift away from state psychiatric hospitals toward community-based services that bring care closer to home.
Professionalism & Evidence-Based Practice: The field broadened from traditional talk therapy to diverse, research-based treatment models like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotion regulation and borderline personality disorder, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma.
Policy & Parity: Landmark legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act and the Affordable Care Act recognized mental health as essential to overall health.
Awareness & Advocacy: Advocacy and lived experience have pushed mental health into mainstream conversation, replacing silence with understanding.

Today: What Remains Challenging

Access & Affordability: Wait times, limited coverage, and workforce shortages still hinder access to timely care.
Workforce Resilience: Clinicians face high demand, burnout, and turnover, emphasizing the need for sustainable support.
Equity & Inclusion: Disparities persist—particularly among communities of color, rural residents, and under-resourced populations.
Stigma & Misunderstanding: While progress is real, stigma still prevents many from seeking help.

Our participants underscored the urgency of funding, workforce development, fair pay for clinicians, and keeping people—not data—at the heart of care.

“As we move Together Forward, we envision a future with no stigma, where everyone knows their value, and where those who serve others are valued—and compensated—accordingly.”

Sara Harrison-Mills, Syntero CEO

Looking Ahead: Where We Go From Here

Integration of Care: Recognizing that mental and physical health are inseparable, services will increasingly be embedded in schools, workplaces, and primary care.
Innovation & Technology: Telehealth, digital tools, and AI can expand access when used thoughtfully.
Prevention & Early Intervention: Building resilience and supporting mental wellness across the lifespan will remain a priority.
Community & Connection: Collaboration among health systems, schools, and local
organizations is key to a thriving Central Ohio.
A Culture of Well-Being: The ultimate goal—mental health valued, supported, and accessible for everyone, every day.

The Power of The Big Table

According to The Columbus Foundation’s 2025 Big Table results, more than 5,000 Central Ohioans took part in conversations focused on community needs such as affordable housing, mental health, and connection.

92% said their conversations led to a deeper understanding of local needs.
98% met someone with a different background or perspective.
65% plan to participate again.

These outcomes reflect what Syntero believes at its core: meaningful change begins with open dialogue and shared purpose.

Heart-shaped design with "50" in pink, teal, purple. Blue arrow with bold text "TOGETHER FORWARD," signifying unity and progress.

50 Years of Mental Health—Together Forward

For 50 years, Syntero has been building bridges—between individuals and care, between communities and compassion, and between the past and the future of mental health.

Thank you to The Columbus Foundation for inspiring these vital conversations across Central Ohio, and to everyone who joined Syntero’s Big Table discussion.

Together Forward, we’ll continue creating a community where mental health care is accessible, equitable, and deeply human—today and for the next 50 years.