S6 Ep1: Paul the Painter

Welcome back to the show. This episode kicks off season 6, and for the next six episodes we are focusing on mental fitness in Britain’s construction industry. Historically, these working environments are not conducive to men being able to speak openly about mental health or wellbeing and as stats currently stand, construction workers are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average.

Our first guest in our tradesmen series is Paul the Painter, a salt of the Earth man with more than a few strings to his bow. Sober now for nearly 19 years, Paul speaks openly and articulately about living with anxiety and the journey he’s been on since accepting and understanding his OCD diagnosis.

Paul speaks with generous honesty about his many careers: first as a panel beater, later working as a train ticket collector, moving from photography with his own exhibit in London, then a cabbie, and now a painter /decorator. This is an important listen particularly for those who know someone who works in construction either on a building site or as a sole trader.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

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Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor