Mayor Cam Guthrie has renewed his call to the province to provide funding for a 24/7 IMPACT program.
IMPACT is the program that sees mental health workers accompany police officers attending mental health-related calls.
The initiative, first launched in 2015, currently operates on limited hours.
Guthrie put forth a motion at Thursday's Guelph Police Services Board meeting that passed unanimously.
"That the Guelph Police Services Board urgently reaffirm our continued position ... that without delay the Government of Ontario provides immediate funding for full 24/7 coverage of the IMPACT program to address the growing addictions and mental health impacts within the city of Guelph."
"This issue has been a growing issue," Guthrie told the board. "Policing is a very small piece of the puzzle in this complex issue. The biggest piece: mental health, addictions and housing supports."
"I'm very disappointed that the upper levels of government are not listening.
"We have asked and asked and asked for help, with real business cases .... we continually do not get it."
IMPACT involves six mental health professionals stationed at Guelph police headquarters who attend crisis calls, once deemed safe by police, to help determine the immediate needs and safety level of individuals involved. Ultimately, it’s police who determine if someone needs to be apprehended and taken for a mental health assessment.
Previous calls for the program's expansion from local mental health advocates and agencies have estimated an additional $2 million in operating funds for the program would save the health care system $3.6 million.
When first implemented, the IMPACT team was available from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. It was expanded in January of last year to 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
A letter will be sent to the province, local MP, MPP and eventually the new Minister of Health and Minister of Mental Health once they are named.
