From crisis support to a long-term wellbeing strategy: How Ataccama addressed employee mental health with Hedepy

How it started

The initial impulse for introducing the benefit was the difficult Covid-19 pandemic period, which significantly impacted employees’ mental wellbeing. They were facing a variety of life situations – from working from home with children to isolation among those living alone. Mental health care was becoming a growing priority, making it necessary to provide employees with a tool to help them cope with personal challenges.

A strong factor was the long-standing recognition of the need for mental health support in the IT sector, where the topic was gaining importance. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this process and led to an immediate need for solutions.

The benefit was further reinforced in February 2022 in connection with the war in Ukraine. Given the company’s international nature, the geopolitical situation strongly resonated within teams. The leadership, including the CEO, took a proactive stance and actively promoted the benefit, including enabling unlimited access to therapy. This highlighted the company’s commitment to providing support in difficult times—not only as a reaction to internal challenges.

Why we chose Hedepy

Hedepy became the ideal solution for Ataccama for several reasons. A key factor was the online platform format, which allowed access to therapy during the pandemic, when everything else had also moved online. Although there was initial skepticism about the effectiveness of online therapy, practice showed it to be a highly effective form of support.

The high level of personalization was perceived as one of Hedepy’s strongest features. Users can choose a therapist based on a questionnaire and try out multiple therapists until they find the right one. This is a significant advantage compared to traditional face-to-face therapy, where switching therapists is often more complicated. From the perspective of a benefit administrator, Ataccama also appreciates Hedepy’s friendly approach and excellent communication.

From a company culture standpoint, Hedepy aligns well with Ataccama’s values, especially the key value “Candid and Caring.” This benefit reflects the company’s commitment to caring for employees and providing support. It also fits with the value “Challenging Fun,” which emphasizes that life is not only about work and that a healthy work-life balance is essential. Therapy helps employees maintain wellbeing and enjoy the fun aspects of their work.

Impact

Opening up the conversation about mental health at Ataccama proved to be a key step, with leadership and People & Culture partners responding quickly to the unexpected challenges of 2021. The introduction of the benefit became an integral part of company culture.

Ataccama places long-term emphasis on wellbeing and work-life balance to ensure employees remain satisfied, motivated, and energized at work. Thanks to its cooperation with Hedepy, mental health care has been elevated to a new level and established as a standard part of company strategy. The company actively promotes the topic—organizing webinars with external speakers and dedicating special months of the year to it.

Although Hedepy’s service is anonymous, it is clear that the benefit has had a significant positive impact on employees’ personal and professional lives. Ataccama’s long-term commitment to mental health is not based solely on numbers but on the belief that even helping a small group of people can be incredibly meaningful—sometimes more so than broad-based benefits. This proactive approach to supporting mental wellbeing demonstrates how a crisis response can evolve into a strong and sustainable part of company culture.

Testimonial

“Collaboration with Hedepy has been excellent, and I would definitely recommend this benefit to every company. A great advantage is online access and the personalization option—employees can choose a therapist that fits their exact needs and also pick a time that suits them. Employee mental wellbeing is key and should have a strong and prioritized place in any company’s benefit offering.”