Guelph IMPACT program should be expanded to 24/7 coverage

July 6, 2021

TORONTO — Mike Schreiner released the following statement regarding Guelph's Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team (IMPACT) program:

TORONTO — Mike Schreiner released the following statement regarding Guelph’s Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team (IMPACT) program:

“The IMPACT program needs to be expanded to 24/7 coverage.

Almost a third of all mental health related calls happen between midnight and 8am. But the service is unavailable during these times.

Crisis response from trained mental health professionals should be available at all hours, especially at night.

Expanding the IMPACT program would help keep Ontarians safe and result in millions of dollars in savings for Guelph General Hospital. It’s the right thing to do.

And Guelph is the perfect place to demonstrate how 24/7 Impact coverage can benefit communities across Ontario.

The mental health crisis in Ontario has been further intensified by the pandemic, and we need to do everything possible to support people and help get them the treatment they need.

I join mental health professionals, Ontario’s Big City Mayors, Guelph’s Police Chief and others calling for an expansion of the IMPACT program.”

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