My job offers "free" online consultations for mental health reasons. Every single "available" slot is during working hours.

Read the fine print too, a lot of these "mental health counseling services" have carve outs that stipulate that they can pass along data about your sessions to third parties (like your employer.) Most of them aren't health care professionals so health care law doesn't apply.

Everything HR does is for the benefit of the company. They do not do anything to genuinely help employees. You are a replaceable cog and the moment they decide you're not useful, you will be tossed out. Never trust them or the structures they put in place.
- Good HR people see their employees as tools and they know that tools need special care to work properly. Yes, they only do it because it's best for the company.
  
  I got lucky and two HR members in the four big companies I've worked for that were like that. I guess it isn't the norm.
Yikes. OP is fortunate enough not to live in the USA.
Depending on what exactly they're doing, that could be practicing without a license

It sounds like they want you to do it during working hours or else they wouldn't offer those times. It's a service offered by your job so it could be interpreted as a work-related function and therefore you should get paid for utilizing it.

I mean, just schedule the appointment, put it on your work schedule, and ask that doctor (or whatever you call them) for a note for work. That's what I do.

If any of my reports told me they booked an appointment through the health care we provided and it was during the work day I'd just say okay, mark it out on your calendar as busy so I don't bug you or expect anything from you during that time. If they need to account for all their time like some roles, bill it as admin time.

No idea where you are or what the labour laws or union situation are. But where I work, a consultation like that is a doctor's appointment and can therefore be taken as medical leave during working hours.

They're in the Netherlands, they can just take the day off to make use of this service

Based on the text in your image i assume that you live in the Netherlands. I would advise you to discuss this with your employer. As you are unable to plan a needed psychiatric appointment during working hours you have the right to take some short leave time for that.

Sources: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/arbeidsovereenkomst-en-cao/vraag-en-antwoord/wanneer-heb-ik-recht-op-bijzonder-of-buitengewoon-verlof#:~:text=Verlof en doktersbezoek,recht hebben op kort verzuimverlof.

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/calamiteitenverlof/vraag-en-antwoord/duur-calamiteitenverlof#:~:text=U kunt calamiteitenverlof of kort,kort verzuimverlof in een jaar.

Just do it during work? Don't take time off either, it's specifically work related.

Those aren't therapy sessions

They're data acquisition and gaslighting sessions

As a supporter of getting professional help like therapy, I get kinda frustrated at the whole process.

My company has two options: a in-company therapist and TalkSpace.

The in-company therapist is a nice lady but I don't like that her boss is HR, where I have the most problems with. She's also technically challenged and uses the company storage to save reports. You know who else has access to the company storage? IT. And I chill with those guys and absolutely know what they can see.

I had two really good therapists who quit TalkSpace in a year. But then, five people who were more like guidance counselors. They didn't have any credentials in their profile outside of basic social work, and didn't give me anything better than (ugh) an AI therapist.

Honestly I have to pay out of pocket for therapy now.

Relevant link from today: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/08/24/nx-s1-5028551/insurance-therapy-therapist-mental-health-coverage

My workplace offers a mental health benefit similar to this, we inform HR that we've scheduled a mental health appointment during work, tell our manager that we're stepping away for an hour, and then return to work after the appointment. It would be a good idea to ask someone in your company how to use your benefit.

I'll be the first person to remind you that HR is not your friend, but this is exactly what they exist for

Have you tried, like, requesting time off?

Maybe inform if you can declare the hours of your consultation as a doctor's visit then?

Please take care of yourself. You are important.

Haha, thanks for the laugh. If I was, I either wouldn't need a psych appointment, or at least it wouldn't cause any issues.

I know better than that what my place in this world is, though. But thanks for at least having a heart. That puts you above everyone I have to interact with on a daily basis.
- I wasn't being funny. I am genuinely concerned for your well being. Please continue to seek help and take care.

Everybody who keeps saying "just go" seems to be assuming that OP works in an office job where you can just come back and finish your work after your appointment.

What if they're an air traffic controller, they're operating factory equipment, monitoring a nuclear reactor, etc. Some jobs require a person to be present and attentive. Now they have to talk to their manager, find someone to cover for them, etc. Mental health treatment should be easily available without having to jump through hoops. I understand their frustration.

Most likely it's just a data harvesting scheme so they can see if you can mentally take being overworked (they don't care and will work you to a slow death regardless), isn't capitalism just wonderful :3

Book the time as an appointment or consultation and just go. If your direct line manager makes a fuss, tell them it’s a doctor’s appointment. If you’ve got far enough that you recognise that you need help, just go ahead and do it.