What's the Best HR Support in Leeds?
- James Priestley
- Jan 6
- 4 min read
How VÕS HELP Compares to Therapy and Wellbeing Apps.
The Reality of HR Mental Health Support in Leeds
If you work in HR in Leeds, you are no longer asking whether mental health support is needed. You are asking which employee mental health services actually reduce absence, improve engagement, and ease pressure on HR teams.
Workplace wellbeing is now a core part of HR strategy across Leeds and West Yorkshire.
Yet, many HR leaders still ask the same questions:
Why do we offer mental health support but engagement remains low?
Why do employees still reach crisis point before asking for help?
That gap is exactly where VÕS HELP supports modern HR mental health support in Leeds.
What HR Teams in Leeds Actually Need From Workplace Mental Health Support
When reviewing an HR wellbeing strategy, most HR professionals ask:
Is this mental health support for employees available when people actually need it? Does it reduce sickness absence and presenteeism across teams?
Will employees in different roles feel confident using it?
Does it reduce pressure on HR and line managers?
The UK Health and Safety Executive reports that stress anxiety and depression account for over half of all work related ill health caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf
For HR teams in Leeds, the challenge is not awareness. It is access engagement and trust.
Why Mental Health Is a Major HR Absence Issue in Leeds
Office for National Statistics data shows that anxiety levels remain high among working age adults across the UK including Yorkshire regionshttps://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing
Mental health is also one of the leading causes of long term sickness absencehttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sickness-absence-in-the-uk-labour-market
For HR leaders this raises a key question:
Are we preventing absence early or reacting once employees are already off work?
The Therapy and Wellbeing Apps HR Teams Are Usually Offered
Most HR support app discussions include familiar names.
Therapy Marketplace Apps
Platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace connect employees to licensed therapists.
These services can work well for employees ready to commit to therapy. However HR teams often see challenges:
Access is usually scheduled rather than immediateAvailability variesEmployees delay reaching out during early stages of stress
This leads HR to ask:
What support exists before someone is ready to book therapy?
Wellbeing and Meditation Apps
Apps such as Headspace and Calm are common workplace wellbeing solutions.
They support habits and mindfulness but are:
Self guided Content focused Less effective during emotional distress
HR teams often ask:
Are the employees most at risk the ones most likely to open a meditation app?
Traditional EAP Services
Many organisations in Leeds still rely on EAPs as their main HR mental health support.
ACAS states that employees are more likely to seek help when support feels accessible informal and non judgementalhttps://www.acas.org.uk/mental-health-at-work
HR teams frequently report:
Employees are unsure how to access EAPs Support feels formal or intimidating Engagement levels remain low
How VÕS HELP Supports HR Teams in Leeds Differently
VÕS HELP was designed around real workplace behaviour.
Instead of assuming employees will book sessions complete programmes or read long content VÕS HELP focuses on real time human support.
For HR teams in Leeds this means:
Earlier intervention Higher engagement across teams Reduced escalation to sickness absence Less pressure on HR and managers
This makes VÕS HELP a strong part of any HR wellbeing strategy in Leeds.
Comparison VÕS HELP vs Other HR Support Apps
HR Priority | Therapy Apps BetterHelp Talkspace | Wellbeing Apps Headspace Calm | VÕS HELP |
Immediate support | Often scheduled | No | Yes |
Human led support | Yes but delayed | . | Yes real time |
Works outside office hours | Limited | Yes | Designed for it |
Engagement during distress | Moderate | Low | High |
HR focused design | Mixed | Limited | Built for HR |
The key HR question is not which app is most popular.
It is which employee wellbeing solution actually works for your workforce in Leeds.
Why Engagement Matters More Than Features
The NHS highlights that early access to mental health support reduces the risk of conditions worseninghttps://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
From an HR perspective this supports:
Lower long term absence Better retention Reduced organisational risk Stronger wellbeing outcomes.
Support only works if employees actually use it.
The HR Question That Changes Everything
When an employee decides to reach out what is the easiest next step you offer?
Read an article Complete an exercise Book a session later Or speak to someone now
VÕS HELP exists for that moment.
Final Thoughts for HR Leaders in Leeds
Apps like Better Help, Talk space, Headspace and Calm all have a place in workplace wellbeing.
But VÕS HELP fills a critical gap for Leeds employers:
Real time human mental health support designed specifically for HR teams and employees.
Before renewing your current provider ask:
Does this reduce absence risk and HR pressure or simply tick a wellbeing box?
Call to Action
If you are reviewing HR support apps in Leeds or employee mental health services we would love to talk.
Tell us:
Your workforce size Your main wellbeing challenges What support you currently use
And we will show you how VÕS HELP can strengthen your HR mental health support strategy in Leeds.
So ask yourself this question, what really is Best HR Support for you?





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