Awareness is all

Unite member Paddy Cunningham, a transport worker, suffered from depression which adversely affected his job. He believes awareness of mental health conditions is the most crucial first step in combatting this form of workplace discrimination.

“Because people don’t talk about it, so many people don’t know the symptoms of depression. They don’t know how common it is – it can strike anyone at any time, no matter what job you have, how much money you earn or where you’re from.

“My Unite rep Adrian Kelly always supported me 100 per cent of the way. When I was going through this whole ordeal, he was always on the end of the phone, calling me when he had not heard from me in a few days. He went out of his way to make sure I was okay.”

Paddy Cunningham, Unite member