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In March 2026, a tragic collision in Halifax took the lives of three young men. Families were changed forever in a matter of seconds. It is a reminder none of us want, but one we cannot ignore. Dangerous driving is not just a legal issue. It is a human one. It affects mental health, families, workplaces, and entire communities across West Yorkshire and beyond. It Can Happen to Anyone The recent Halifax crash involved multiple vehicles and is currently being investigated as ca

Eid Mubarak. For millions of Muslims around the world, Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, self-reflection and community. It is a day filled with celebration. Families gather. Mosques are full. Tables are prepared with food that has been waited for all month. People dress in their best clothes and greet each other with warmth and generosity. But like many meaningful cultural and religious moments, Eid is not always experienced the same way by everyone. F

There are some experiences in life that permanently divide time into two parts. Before. And after. For parents who experience child loss, life often becomes defined by that moment. Everything changes. But the world around them continues moving as if nothing happened. Workplaces continue running. Meetings continue. Emails continue. And eventually, grieving parents return to work. The emotional reality behind child loss Child loss creates a kind of grief that is difficult for o

Across Yorkshire, mental health services are evolving quickly. From Leeds and Bradford to Wakefield, Kirklees and North Yorkshire, more organisations are trying to meet growing demand for support. Many are doing valuable work. But when you look closely at what is currently available, one issue still stands out clearly: speed. A great deal of mental health support across Yorkshire is still built around referrals, waiting lists, scheduled sessions, workshops, peer groups, signp

Conversations about grief and child loss are difficult, but they matter. For HR professionals and organisations across Leeds working to improve workplace wellbeing and HR mental health support, understanding how grief affects employees is an essential part of creating compassionate workplaces. There are some kinds of grief that words never really reach. Child loss is one of them. When a parent loses a child, the world doesn’t simply feel different. It becomes different. Time

Mental health support should not be complicated, expensive, or slow to access. Yet across the world millions of people struggle to get the help they need quickly. This week we received a new review from a client in the United States who used the VÕS HELP mental health app and shared how easy it was to connect with a professional in minutes. Their experience highlights exactly why modern technology is transforming mental health support. Instead of waiting weeks or months for

When people talk about workplace wellbeing platforms, they often focus on technology. Apps. Dashboards. Systems. But the real story behind VÕS HELP has never been technology. It has always been people. This blog is about the community that shows up every day to support HR mental health in Leeds, and why we are genuinely grateful for the people who have helped build something that now supports employees across the region. Because behind every call, every conversation and every

Supporting HR mental health in Leeds through fast, accessible workplace mental health support for modern organisations. In a world where workplace pressure continues to grow, the most powerful thing any organisation can build is not technology. It is community. At VÕS HELP, we are incredibly thankful for the people who have helped shape what we are building. From counsellors and therapists to HR professionals and employees across the region, our community has turned a simple

And Many Workplaces Still Treat Caring Like a “Personal Issue” If someone in Leeds is raising a child with special needs, caring does not happen before 9am and after 5pm. It happens during the workday. During meetings in Wellington Place. During commutes on the M62. During NHS appointments at Leeds Children’s Hospital. During “just one more call”. Here is the uncomfortable truth for employers across West Yorkshire: many workplaces say they support carers, but still structure

Mental health challenges can affect anyone at any time. Whether the issue is stress, anxiety, loneliness, burnout, or a difficult life event, having access to support quickly can make a significant difference. Unfortunately, many people in the United Kingdom still face long waiting lists and high costs when trying to access professional mental health support. These barriers often prevent individuals from seeking help when they need it most. VÕS HELP was created to remove thes

In Leeds, a city known for its financial services sector, NHS trusts, retail hubs, universities and fast growth SMEs, many workplaces talk about disability inclusion like it’s a culture initiative. Posters. Awareness days. A line in the handbook. But for employees in Leeds living with special needs or long term conditions, “inclusion” is either practical or it’s pretend. Here’s the controversial bit: a lot of organisations across West Yorkshire are unintentionally running rea

See the publication below: https://forbesscotland.com/how-james-priestley-built-a-mental-health-platform-that-connects-crisis-patients-to-counsellors-in-60-seconds/ Leeds based mental health platform VÕS HELP has been featured in Forbes following its 2026 Global Recognition Award win for innovation in mental health technology. The award recognises organisations creating measurable, scalable impact. VÕS HELP was acknowledged for solving one of the United Kingdom’s most urgent

It is 4:47pm on a Wednesday in Leeds city centre. A high performing employee has just left a performance review. The feedback was not disastrous, but it was not glowing either. They sit back at their desk. Heart racing. Mind spiralling. Thinking: “I am falling behind.” “They regret promoting me.” “I cannot mess this up.” This is not laziness. This is not lack of resilience. This is career pressure. For HR teams in Leeds managing workforce productivity and sickness absence ma

Career pressure is not just workload. It is the mental load behind it: • “If I stop, I’ll fall behind.” • “Everyone else is coping better than me.” • “If I say I’m struggling, I’ll look weak.” • “If I don’t get promoted soon, I’m failing.” This is often performance anxiety at work, not laziness or lack of resilience. HR teams usually hear about it later as: • Sleep issues • Panic before meetings • Fear of performance reviews • Perfectionism and over checking • Emotional shutd

Mental health in the UK workplace is no longer a background issue. It is a measurable business factor affecting absence, productivity and retention. For HR leaders reviewing their HR support strategy in 2026, the evidence is clear. Workplace wellbeing is directly linked to financial performance and workforce stability. Imagine stepping into a courtroom where the evidence is not opinion but data. Absence reports, stress statistics and financial impact statements sit on the tab

In today’s fast paced working environment, supporting mental health in the UK is no longer optional. It is a business priority. HR teams across Leeds, Bradford and the wider UK are under pressure to reduce sickness absence, improve productivity and build healthier workplace cultures. This is where VÕS HELP changes the game. The Reality HR Teams Are Facing According to the UK Government’s Health and Safety Executive, work related stress, depression and anxiety account for 49

Cost is one of the largest barriers to mental wellbeing access. Government guidance highlights affordability as a key factor influencing help seeking behaviour. Government reference https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-employers-refreshing-the-case-for-investment Subscription models often discourage people who only need occasional support. Paying monthly for unused services creates friction. VÕS HELP uses a pay as you need model with no contracts and n

AI tools are increasingly used in wellbeing apps. They can provide structure, journaling prompts, and coping exercises. But mental health is deeply human. Government mental health frameworks consistently emphasise the importance of interpersonal support, connection, and communication in recovery. Government reference https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-wellbeing-plan-discussion-paper Human conversation activates empathy, emotional mirroring, and trust

When someone is struggling mentally, time is not neutral. It amplifies distress. Weeks of waiting for support can turn manageable stress into crisis. In the UK, government reports continue to highlight delays in accessing mental health services, especially during peak demand periods. According to NHS guidance, early intervention significantly improves recovery outcomes and reduces escalation risk. Government reference https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/ Speed matters because em

Workplace wellbeing has become a major focus for HR teams across the UK. Organisations are investing more than ever in employee wellbeing platforms, mental health apps, and digital support tools. Yet despite this investment, stress-related absence, presenteeism, and burnout continue to rise. So why isn’t it working? The Reality of Workplace Mental Health in the UK According to the Health and Safety Executive, stress, anxiety, and depression remain the leading cause of work-re