Paul Wilson's story for Men's Health Awareness month

Throughout November we have been focusing on men’s health, with stories each week from men who have faced physical or mental health issues in the workplace.

This week, we change focus slightly to prevention. Paul Wilson works as a FLM at the NHS Supply Chain site in Bridgwater, where he has been part of the Goods In department for seven years. A keen photographer, Paul has had some of his photographs published by the BBC, The Telegraph, and Somerset Life. As Men’s Health Awareness Month comes to a close, Paul shares his passion for photography and discusses how his walks in the Quantock Hills near his home contribute to his mental well-being.

How it all started

In 2010, while walking his black labrador, Guinness, Paul decided he wanted to capture some photographs of her. He bought a camera and his passion for photography was realised.

Paul is entirely self-taught; he began by photographing Guinness during their walks, experimenting with different angles, lighting, and shutter speeds. Over time, he developed the skills he has today.

Inspired by nature on his doorstep

Paul’s main interest is wildlife photography inspired by the Quantock Hills near to where he lives. The Quantocks were designated as England's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. This range of hills spans approximately 15 miles long and 5 miles wide, stretching from the sea at St Audries Bay to Taunton and features a mix of forestry, open heathland and woodland. Paul said, “It’s an amazing place because up on the heathland you have wild heather and ferns with stunning colours in the summer and autumn. There is always wildlife up there - red deer, wild ponies, sheep and other mammals like badgers and foxes. This time of year is particularly beautiful with the sunrises and sunsets and the changing colours.”

The ultimate dream shot

If Paul could photograph anything, anywhere in the world it would be a polar bear in the wild. From a photography perspective, capturing this image would be challenging due to the contrast of white on white. Snow appears blue in photographs and polar bears appear yellow, making it difficult to adjust the levels properly to achieve a true white photograph.

How walking and photography help my mental health

Paul explained, “I believe if you've had a very busy week at work you can’t beat a walk in nature. I enjoy heading up to the Quantock Hills, parking my car, and going for a walk. I tend to just wander around and don't really stick to a path but the fresh air and the possibility of seeing wildlife just seem to take all worries away. If it's raining or it's wet, I walk in the forestry amongst the trees. It’s just an amazing feeling and you forget everything. We live in a beautiful country; you don’t have to go halfway around the world to see wonderful scenery.”

See Paul's feature on the BBC website

Unipart have invested in additional sets of the DIY know your numbers kits, which means your Wellbeing Champions can host more regular events to help you manage your health from the inside out. If there's one taking place, get involved and understand your numbers.

There is always someone you can talk to about any aspect of your life, health, and wellbeing.

For a confidential conversation with a caring colleague you can reach out to a Mental Health First Aider directly, or by sending a message through Here4U, or you can call TELUS Health One on 0800 169 1920 to speak in confidence with a counsellor.