Platte County Commission announces appointments of Mental Health Advisory Board

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- The Platte County Commission announced the appointment of nine county residents to its newly formed Mental Health Board.

The board will guide the use of dedicated property tax revenues to enhance local mental and behavioral health services for Platte County residents following the county's transition to a standalone mental health program.

The board includes three providers of health care and six representatives of consumers of psychiatric or behavioral health services, or their family members), ensuring a balance of clinical expertise and lived community experience.

The board consists of:

• Ali Syed is a board-certified psychiatrist and Regional Medical Director for Outpatient Behavioral Health at Mosaic Health System.
• Carmen McHenry is a Licensed Professional Counselor who runs a private practice in Liberty, Missouri.
• Doug Burgess is a Licensed Physician serving as the Medical Director of Addiction Services at University of Health and is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Missouri- Kansas City.
• Patricia Harris is a retired educator who co-founded a children's church program and leads her church's education ministry as its director. Today, she continues to give back by mentoring young women as they navigate life's challenges.
• Neil Getzlow is a 25-year public relations and communications executive and leads the Celebrate Recovery Ministry at his church. He currently serves on the board of directors for Relentless Pursuit Outreach and Recovery (RPOR) and volunteers as men’s education director for ReHope.
• Paul Campbell is a law enforcement leader with over 23 years at the Riverside Police Department, including 10 years as a Patrol Supervisory. He is the agency’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator.
• Jason Reed retired from the U.S. Army as a Lt. Colonel after serving 22 years; worked in military education, tactical operations, and strategic planning. He serves on the Clay-Platte-Ray Mental Health Board and will bring continuity to the new mental health board.
• Karen Bartlett has served as the Regional Marketing Director at Health Systems, Inc. for the past 18 years and brings in over 40 years of experience in the healthcare sector.
• Suzanne Zimmerman is a co-founder of The Farmer’s House (TFH), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) in Platte County and surrounding communities.

The nine members were selected for their professional expertise, personal experiences and dedication to improving mental health outcomes in Platte County, according to a news release from the Commission.

The Platte County Mental Health Board will provide guidance on program development, funding priorities and service delivery to ensure resources effectively address the needs of local residents.