Gambling Addiction, ADHD and Mental Health in Construction

Conversations around mental health are slowly becoming more common in industries like construction but addiction is still one of the topics that often remains hidden in the shadows. People will openly talk about stress, long hours or burnout, yet addictions such as gambling frequently go unnoticed because they rarely leave visible signs. Unlike alcohol or substance misuse, gambling is often described as a hidden addiction. It can take place privately on a phone, late at night or quietly during spare moments. On the surface, everything may appear normal while underneath someone’s life is slowly being consumed by it.

During a recent episode of the Onward Shift Podcast, I sat down with Paul Nash to talk about exactly that. His story is one of resilience, determination and transformation. It is also a story that highlights how easily addiction can take hold, especially when combined with factors such as neurodiversity, pressure and isolation. Listening to Paul share his journey reminded me how important it is that we continue to open up conversations around mental health in construction and beyond. When people speak honestly about their experiences, it creates space for others to recognise their own struggles and realise that they are not alone.

From a Childhood Between England and Japan

Paul’s early life was not necessarily defined by hardship. In many ways he describes it as a good upbringing, although like many families it came with its own challenges. His childhood began in England, living with his parents and brother, surrounded by pets and a fairly ordinary family environment. However, when he was around ten years old his life took a dramatic turn when his father’s job took the family to Japan.

The move to Japan created a unique chapter in his life. While Paul and his brother moved abroad with their father, their mother remained in England due to her multiple sclerosis. The heat and humidity of Japan would have made her condition significantly worse, so the family made the difficult decision to live apart temporarily. Despite this challenge, the situation also brought unexpected opportunities. Thanks to his father’s job, Paul and his brother were able to travel back to England frequently throughout the year, sometimes flying home five or six times annually.

It was an unusual upbringing that blended privilege and complexity at the same time. Living abroad exposed Paul to new cultures and experiences but it also meant navigating family separation and change at a young age.

Struggling with Education but Refusing to Give Up

When Paul eventually returned to the UK, life looked very different. The family’s circumstances had changed and the lifestyle they once enjoyed abroad was no longer possible. Paul transitioned from private education and international schooling into a state school environment. Academically, he struggled. Exams and traditional learning systems did not come naturally to him and his GCSE results reflected that struggle.

He left school with just one GCSE at grade C, which happened to be in music. For many people that might have felt like a dead end but Paul’s story shows how the right learning environment can completely transform someone’s potential. When he arrived at college and began studying through BTEC coursework-based learning rather than traditional exams, everything changed. Instead of memorising information for tests, he could demonstrate his understanding through projects and practical work.

That shift suited the way his brain worked. He completed his Level 2 BTEC with a Distinction, the highest possible grade and continued into a Level 3 course. Eventually he went on to university and graduated with a 2:2 honours degree. This was particularly powerful because earlier in his education a teacher had told him he would never reach that stage. That moment stayed with him. Rather than accepting that judgement, Paul used it as motivation to prove that prediction wrong.