Integrated Mobile Police And Crisis Team (IMPACT)

What is IMPACT and how does this Team support our Community?

Since 2015, the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) and the Guelph Police Service have been working together to provide supportive mental health crisis care to those in need. The Integrated Mobile Police And Crisis Team (IMPACT) is an example of what is possible when community partners work together to support our community. This initiative has transformed the way mental health related calls for service are handled at the Guelph Police Service by providing a collaborative, immediate and comprehensive crisis response for individuals and their families.

IMPACT is comprised of six full-time and one part-time specially trained Mental Health Clinicians who operate directly out of the Guelph Police Service headquarters located at 15 Wyndham Street South in the City of Guelph, and attend calls for service alongside police officers when requested and available. As of January 10th, 2021, IMPACT is available seven days a week from 8am until midnight.

This team was formed with the aim of creating a system in which CMHA WW members and police officers could jointly respond to mental health, addiction and crisis related calls for service. The goal of IMPACT is to ensure individuals have better health outcomes by receiving the most appropriate community-based crisis response at the time of need. This has resulted in a more comprehensive level of care through less-intrusive service interventions and reducing the need for emergency room and hospital involvement.Two impact team members comforting a young woman
IMPACT assists our community in a number of ways:

  • Connecting with individuals to assess needs and coordinate services
  • Providing mobile crisis support
  • Consulting with police about calls
  • Sharing resources for supporting officers after a traumatic call
  • Preparing training sessions and providing resources for police service members
  • Making presentations in the community

During the 2024-2025 fiscal year to date, IMPACT workers have attended 467 live calls with police and responded to 1,639 requests for after-the-fact referrals, serving 1,110 unique individuals. Of the 467 live calls with police, 359 individuals (76.9%) were diverted from attending hospital. Of the 108 calls resulting in hospital visits, 13 people were transported voluntarily and 95 were apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

Since its launch, IMPACT has been incredibly successful and both CMHA WW and the Guelph Police Service look forward to continuing and expanding this important joint venture as it evolves and grows to best fit the needs of our citizens.

 

** Monthly update - During February, 2025, IMPACT workers attended 31 live calls with police and responded to 162 requests for after-the-fact referrals, serving 121 unique individuals. Of the 31 live calls with police, 22 individuals (71%) were diverted from attending hospital. Of the nine calls resulting in hospital visits, two were transported voluntarily and seven were apprehended under the Mental Health Act.