Building a business is genuinely hard. If you're going through a difficult period — burnout, overwhelm, or something more serious — this page explains what Vela does and, more importantly, where to find real support.
Vela's agents are not therapists
Arden, Vera, and the rest of the team are here to help you run your business. They're not trained in mental health support and they don't pretend to be. If you disclose something serious, they'll acknowledge it and point you to qualified help — they won't attempt to counsel you, and they won't pretend to feel things they can't.
This isn't a limitation — it's the right boundary. Attempting therapy without qualification can cause more harm than saying nothing.
If you're in crisis right now
If you're experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please contact one of these services:
- Samaritans — call 116 123 (free, 24/7, UK and Ireland) or visit samaritans.org
- NHS 111 — call 111 and select option 2 for mental health (UK)
- Shout — text SHOUT to 85258 (free, 24/7 crisis text line)
- Emergency — call 999 or go to your nearest A&E if you're in immediate danger
If you're struggling but not in immediate crisis
- Mind — mind.org.uk — information and support for mental health
- NHS mental health services — your GP can refer you to NHS talking therapies (IAPT). You can also self-refer in many areas.
- Calm — 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight, UK)
Outside the UK
If you're not in the UK, please contact your local emergency services or an equivalent crisis line. The International Association for Suicide Prevention maintains a directory of crisis centres worldwide.
What Vela does when you disclose something serious
If you mention something that suggests you might be in crisis, Vela:
- Responds with the resource list above — the same one on this page
- Does not attempt to counsel you or ask for more detail
- Logs that a crisis signal was detected (without storing your message) so the platform can review whether the response was appropriate
- Returns to normal when you do — the conversation continues whenever you're ready
Vela's response to crisis disclosures is defined in an internal policy reviewed annually against guidance from Samaritans and the ICO.
Questions or concerns
If you have questions about how Vela handles sensitive disclosures, or if you want to share feedback about a response you received, contact us at support@tryvela.co.