ICAS Poland is becoming Lyra Polska

Following over 11 years of successful operation in the Polish market, ICAS Poland commenced its transition to Lyra Polska in September 2024. The transformation stems from the change in the ownership structure of ICAS World. For our current and future clients, it represents an evolution towards an even more advanced model of employee support services, which Lyra Health is committed to providing. We believe that the combined resources of ICAS and Lyra will enhance our ability to support employees and employers as they navigate the challenges of the current mental health crisis.

The experience of ICAS World and ICAS Poland

Founded in 1987 in the UK, ICAS World was one of the pioneers of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). The concept of providing employees with structured, professional support emerged in response to the issue of alcoholism among workers. Faced with the dilemma of whether to part ways with a skilled but addicted employee or to offer help, companies increasingly opted for the latter. This gave rise to the "traditional EAP," which has since undergone a profound evolution. Over the past 35 years, ICAS World has expanded its services to address a wide range of personal and work-related issues and built a global presence through partnerships with local market experts. One such partnership was formed in 2013 with ICAS Poland. We tailored the EAP to Polish legal and cultural conditions and developed it into a comprehensive programme. Our solutions became a blueprint for other support platforms that followed, particularly as the demand for employee assistance services surged in response to the pandemic.

Lyra Health – a new strong player in the Polish market

Lyra Health was founded in 2015 in Silicon Valley, USA, with a mission to transform mental health services by improving their accessibility, quality, and efficiency through the use of technology and data-driven approaches. The company quickly secured significant funding and, with a focus on global expansion, established a successful partnership with ICAS World in 2021. In 2022, Lyra Health acquired ICAS World, merging the two organisations under the Lyra brand. This move enables Lyra Health to offer a new standard of comprehensive, locally tailored care to over 15 million people in 200 countries. Having previously been a partner of ICAS World, our company has now become Lyra Health’s local partner, marking Lyra’s entry into Poland and reshaping the competitive landscape of the market. Today, we can confidently assert that no other entity within Poland's EAP sector is part of an organisation as dynamic and forward-thinking as Lyra Health.

The Effectiveness of Lyra Health’s Solutions

Lyra Health has garnered the trust of numerous prominent employers, including Apple, Meta (formerly Facebook), Starbucks, eBay, Genentech, Uber, Pinterest, Morgan Stanley, Zoom, Lululemon. Lyra’s approach demonstrates exceptional efficacy in enhancing employee mental health, translating into significant financial benefits for employers. According to independent research conducted by Aon, employers using Lyra’s solutions have reported an average annual reduction in healthcare costs of 26%, a result that has been consistently maintained over four years. Furthermore, Lyra delivers a return on investment (ROI) of 3:1—employers save $3.04 for every dollar invested. Lyra’s interventions also contribute to improved work efficiency; 9 out of 10 Lyra users experience sustained improvements in mental well-being, leading to increased productivity and engagement.

Current Position of Lyra Polska

In the Polish market, we collaborate with 300 companies of varying sizes and employment structures across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, IT, finance, pharmaceuticals, and public administration. Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) covers 400,000 employees and their close ones. We cultivate enduring relationships built on trust—60% of the agreements in our portfolio have been in place for over five years, and 75% of new inquiries come through recommendations. The solutions we have developed address a wide range of personal and organizational challenges in the realms of psychology, workplace culture, law, and finance. Our key differentiators include 24/7 access to a psychologist within 15 seconds, the option for sessions in-person, and assistance with legal and financial documentation. We not only address immediate problems and crises to swiftly restore operational capacity but also proactively build resilience and enhance team competencies through a rich educational offering. Our programme not only benefits employees but also supports Employer Branding, integrates into ESG strategies, and provides clear economic advantage for companies.

Details of the transition to Lyra Polska

We believe that being part of Lyra Health will positively impact the long-term development of our services, translating into benefits for our clients. At the same time, we wish to assure you that the transition to operating under the Lyra Polska brand will not disrupt our ongoing collaboration:

• Our company’s registered name in the KRS will change from ICAS Poland to Lyra Polska. This change does not affect the terms of existing agreements. EAP services will continue as per our current commitments. Detailed information regarding the implications of this change for existing contracts will be communicated individually to the relevant parties.
• The ownership structure, management bodies, and organisational structure of the former ICAS Poland will remain unchanged.
• The KRS and NIP numbers, bank account numbers, company address, and telephone numbers, including those for the office, employees, and the EAP Line, will remain the same.
• Our logo, visual identity, and the name of our mobile application will change from ICAS Poland EAP to Lyra Polska EAP.
• The website address will change from icas.pl to lyrapolska.pl, but visitors to icas.pl will be automatically redirected to the new address.
• Email addresses for the office, employees, and for reporting EAP-related matters will change. New addresses will be provided to clients through individual correspondence. Redirects from icas.pl domain addresses will remain active for at least 6 months.

We request clients to review the information provided by their Account Managers and direct any questions regarding these changes to them. If you are not yet a client but are interested in cooperating with Lyra Polska, please contact us at wspolpraca@lyrapolska.pl