Missouri Mental Health Commission elects new chairman

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The state Mental Health Commission said Friday that it had selected a former superintendent at a St. Joseph psychiatric center as its chairman.

The commission voted at its Thursday meeting to select Ron Dittemore as its chairman. Dittemore was first appointed to the commission in 2005 but had to resign when he was tapped to be the Mental Health Department's interim director July 2006 through January 2007.

Earlier this year, Gov. Matt Blunt reappointed Dittemore to the commission.

The Mental Health Commission selects and advises the Mental Health Department's director. It has seven members and is required to have substance abuse and community mental health advocates, two physicians, a business representative and two citizens.

The Mental Health Department works with 150,000 Missourians each year and operates 28 state facilities.

As chairman, Dittemore replaces John Constantino, an assistant professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Washington University. Constantino remains on the commission.

Dittemore led the state's Northwest Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center and retired in 1999. He had worked for the department for 33 years.