AFL star Cody Weightman opens up in new health campaign
AFL star Cody Weightman has opened up about his personal mental health story as new research reveals Australians are missing out on the physical and mental health benefits of creative activities.
Weightman is among the global contributors featured in new Bupa campaign, Express Your Health, which demonstrates the power of people being able to express, process and share their health experiences through creative outlets like art.
This coincides with new research, which surveyed 1000 Aussies, and highlighted the impact creativity has on one’s health and wellbeing including:
64% feeling relaxed and calm when participating in activities like art.
79% say having a creative outlet helps them better process their emotions.
88% recognise their creative hobbies like drawing, doodling, painting or crafts positively impact health and wellbeing.
75% saying they would benefit from more opportunities to be creative in daily life.
Lack of time and tiredness were the biggest barriers of not participating in creative activities.
Weightman’s contribution to the campaign draws on his experience of navigating significant injury setbacks throughout his AFL career. During long recovery periods, he turned to drawing and painting as a creative outlet, producing artwork that reflected his rehabilitation journey and the life he was working towards returning to.
His piece for the Express Your Health campaign, titled Patella, captures that goal, portraying his desire to be back surfing, playing football and feeling fit again.
He said the canvas was critical to his mental health while recovering from injury.
"Over my career I’ve faced significant injury challenges, most recently a complex knee injury requiring five procedures. During long recovery periods, I turned to drawing and painting, as a way to visualise recovery, and reflect on the life I wanted to return to, supported by my team,” he said.
Over my career I’ve faced significant injury challenges, most recently a complex knee injury requiring five procedures. During long recovery periods, I turned to drawing and painting, as a way to visualise recovery, and reflect on the life I wanted to return to, supported by my team.
“Art lets me express what words can’t. It gives me focus, calm, and escape, helping me process health challenges and stay positive throughout. It means a lot to me to be a part of this Bupa campaign and help to demonstrate the connection between art and health for others to see."
The campaign, which launches in Australia today with digital billboards in Melbourne and a light projection in Sydney, celebrates creativity as a powerful way to share health experiences and encouraging people to open up so they can feel less alone and empowered to seek care.
Bupa Marketing and Brand General Manager Naomi Driver said: “Our research shows how creative activities like drawing or painting can help people unwind and make sense of difficult moments, even in a short space of time. This campaign encourages people to share their health stories creatively, because when words are hard to find, expressing yourself can help you connect, cope and feel more in control of your health.
As part of the global campaign, one of Europe’s largest hand-painted murals has been unveiled in London which is equivalent to 22 double decker buses. The project brings together artists and storytellers from around the world, each sharing a personal health story through their artwork.
Alongside Weightman, contributors include Olympic diver Tom Daley, and renowned artists such as Sophie Tea, Yinka Ilori and Coco Dávez. The campaign represents stories spanning fertility, sickle cell, diabetes, anxiety, ageing, grief, and more, showing how art can express the physical, mental and emotional sides of health.
Bupa is inviting people around the world to share their health story through creativity and art at bupa.com/express where it will become part of a global collection. To help inspire people, the site includes tips and advice on how to start a creative activity.
