Lindner Center of Hope has kicked off the largest expansion in its 16-year history, a bold move to meet growing demand for mental health care in Greater Cincinnati and beyond.
Leaders, donors, civic officials and staff gathered Tuesday at the center’s Mason campus to celebrate the project. They described the effort as more than bricks and mortar – a renewed commitment to people searching for help and healing.
“We break ground not just on a building, but on a promise,” said Dr. Michael Groat, the center’s president and CEO. “A promise to the next person, next family and the next neighbor who walks through our doors looking for help, hope and healing that we are there for them.”
What’s in the works
Founded in 2008, the nonprofit mental health center provides inpatient, outpatient, residential and research-based care. It partners with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s.
The expansion includes a four-story, 75,000-square-foot medical office building with new space for outpatient services, a 300-person conference center and centralized administrative offices. Plans also feature a dedicated intake area with ambulance access and expanded parking.
The project adds 10,800 square feet to Sibcy House, the center’s nationally known residential diagnostic unit. The new wing will offer eight private suites, a demonstration kitchen and updated areas for therapy, art, fitness and wellness.
Paul Hemmer Company and Cintech Construction will lead the build. The new facilities are set to open in 2026.
“Together we can break down barriers, reduce stigma and create a brighter future for everyone,” said Frances Lindner, who co-founded the center with her husband, S. Craig Lindner. “We will transform mental illness into mental wellness.”
A response to urgent needs
State and local leaders attended the event to highlight the growing mental health crisis. In their remarks, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Mason Mayor Diana Nelson emphasized the urgent need to expand mental health resources in Ohio and across the United States.
The need for comprehensive mental health care continues to rise, with troubling trends highlighting the urgency. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for young people, with rates increasing after a brief decline during the pandemic. Alcohol-related deaths rose nearly 30% between 2016 and 2021, and nearly half of U.S. adolescents now report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
The economic toll is also staggering, with mental illness costing the U.S. an estimated $282 billion each year.
As a charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, Lindner Center of Hope is expanding its campus to help meet these growing needs by offering a range of inpatient, outpatient and residential services grounded in research and clinical expertise.
“This expansion reflects a simple truth: that mental health care is not a luxury – it is a necessity,” Groat said. “And together, we are declaring that this community, here in Mason and here in Ohio, will lead the way in providing it.”
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