Guelph hospital expands emergency mental health, addictions services

GUELPH - Guelph General Hospital has completed construction on a new mental addictions facility that will expand emergency services for patients experiencing psychiatric crises.

The Angel Gabriel Foundation Centre for Mental Health and Addictions, located inside the hospital’s main building, is expected to begin providing expanded services later this month.

The redeveloped space includes a short-stay assessment unit with eight beds, up from four. The additional capacity will allow hospital staff to assess, monitor and treat more adults experiencing psychiatric emergencies.

The project is part of a broader redevelopment of emergency services at Guelph General Hospital. The hospital received provincial approval for the redevelopment in April 2025.

The $23.4-million project is being funded jointly by the Ontario government, donors to The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital’s Together, We Care campaign, and the City of Guelph.

Hospital president and CEO Mark Walton said the new space will allow staff to better support patients in both individual and group settings.

“This space will help patients stabilize sooner and refurn safely to the community,” Walton said.

The project also involves a partnership with Homewood Health Centre, which provides mental health and addictions services in Guelph.

“This project reflects a deep-rooted partnership that has supported emergency mental health and addictions patients in our community for many years”, said Dr. Carlos Lalonde, president and chief of staff at Homewood Health Centre.

Construction will continue in the hospital’s main emergency services area in the coming months. The emergency department will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the work.

The hospital is advising visitors to plan ahead because parking will remain limited during construction.