The cost of 24/7 expansion of a program that pairs Guelph police officers with mental health professionals to respond to crisis calls has been presented to the local police services board.
Now the job will be convincing all three levels of government to make the investment.
The Integrated Mobile Police And Crisis Team (IMPACT) is a program that embeds mental health clinicians within the department’s headquarters to respond to calls for service alongside uniformed officers.
The program was created six years ago as a partnership between Guelph Police Service and Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) to provide supportive mental health crisis care to those in need.
CMHA WW operated IMPACT programs with the Guelph Police Service, Wellington County OPP and Waterloo Region Police Service.
CMHA WW executive director Helen Fishburn told the board the goal is to expand Guelph’s team to a 24/7 service first before doing the same with the other two services.
“We are seeing some of our highest trends and volumes and pressures in Guelph,” said Fishburn.
In Guelph, the IMPACT team currently operates from 8 a.m. to midnight. Even with that coverage, IMPACT clinicians are not able to get to more than 50 per cent of the calls for service that could use their assistance.
Mental health interactions have been increasing over the past four years and are continuing to trend upward.
In 2018, Guelph Police responded to 1,988 mental health interactions. Last year that number had grown to 2,585.
“This is our new normal. This is the level of need that we are seeing in our community,” said Fishburn.
Through the IMPACT program, the number of people sent to hospital has increased over the same time period, with 351 sent 2018, while 882 were sent last year.
But the potential cost savings to the health care system could come from the expected increase in the number of people diverted from the hospital because of IMPACT.
On Thursday the Guelph Police Services Board was presented with a price tag for the ultimate goal of expanding the IMPACT team to offer true 24/7 coverage in Guelph. CMHA WW worked together with the Guelph Police Service to determine the best options for expanding the current IMPACT team of seven clinicians.
Two options were presented to the board on Thursday. Option A includes adding an additional seven clinicians at an annual cost of $846,723, while Option B would add an additional 13, which would cost $1,533,709 annually.
Both options would have a slightly higher cost in their first year to cover equipment cost and other expenses related to ramping up the program.
CMHA WW estimates Option A could result in a cost savings of $2.5 million a year by diverting up to 2,100 from hospital, while Option B could divert up to 3,000 people for an estimated savings of $3.6 million.
Chief Gord Cobey said offering a 24/7 IMPACT service would give the community the support it deserves and demonstrate what is possible for other communities.
“We really think this could be a model that could be replicated in many other places,” said Cobey to the board.
One of the next steps, said Fishburn, is to put together a round table discussion with local stakeholders and members of all levels of government.
“We need the backing of not only the police services board but of our local politicians of every levels to be able to upturn every rock so we can look under it for funding,” said Fishburn.
After the presentation, Guelph mayor and board member Cam Guthrie presented a motion asking the board chair to work with CMHA to explore funding possibilities with the local MP and MPP, as well as other stakeholders. It passed unanimously.
