News and updates from General Hospital show Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) thinking back on his battle with bipolar disorder. Additionally, the three-time Daytime Emmy winner reveals how he even thought about suicide in a recent interview
See what Maurice shared about his issues with mental health. Discover what the General Hospital star revealed following the tragic deaths of Tyler Christopher and Billy Miller by continuing to read.
Maurice Benard Talks Bipolar Disorder
Maurice Benard, the star of General Hospital, appears to have the ideal existence on paper. As an example, the actor won three Daytime Emmys. Additionally, Paula, his wife, has helped him both personally and professionally.
Benard fights bipolar disorder, nevertheless. Additionally, two of his co-stars on General Hospital, who shared a mental health problem, passed away in the previous two months. At the age of 43, actor Billy Miller, who played Drew Cain and Jason Morgan, committed suicide. Furthermore, according to People, Tyler Christopher, who won an Emmy for his performance as Nikolas Cassadine, passed away a few days before turning 51 due to a heart attack.
Now 60, Benard was just 22 when he received his diagnosis of bipolar disorder. And he recalled, “For about a two week period, I was just acting strange.” But although his mother called the police, he then behaved normally. “My dad’s crying; my mom’s crying, but the cops couldn’t do anything because I became normal,” explained Maurice. “And then the next morning, they took me to the mental institute.”
Maurice Benard Praises Wife Paula
However, after spending time in a mental health facility, Benard met his wife Paula. And they tied the knot in 1990. But although Maurice struggled with his condition, she stayed strong in her support.
And Paula shared, “It’s no different than living with anyone with any other problem that they have. I mean, yes, it’s difficult, you know,” she admitted. “But I don’t think twice about it. I just do whatever we have to do to manage it. And when times are hard, then we dig deeper and figure out what we need to do.”
However, Maurice recalled his lowest point in his battle with bipolar disorder. And he considered suicide on a daily basis. As a result of the pandemic lock-down, everything changed.
Maurice Benard Contemplated Suicide
“I thought about it every day,” recalled Benard about his suicidal low point. As a result of the pandemic lock-down, General Hospital went on hiatus for four months. And the actor’s book tour across the country for his memoir Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital temporarily ended.
According to Benard, he “felt a real cold rush in me.” That evening, I was weeping like a child and trembling like a fish out of water. It had never happened to me before. I say to Paula, “Baby, I’m done,” while she lies on the bed. What is wrong with me? “Honey, you’re fine,” she says in a soothing tone. You will be alright. And I’m thinking, “What the f— are you talking about?” I will be alright? I was unable to escape the terrible panic that had gripped me.
However, then the General Hospital actor began his podcast called State of Mind. And talking with other actors about mental health helped him. But his depression continued. “And it was bad,” Benard admitted.
Maurice Benard Shares What Saved Him
However, he recalled one day heading to his home. “And as I walked in, I said, ‘God, you gotta help me now because I can’t do it anymore.’ And I remember thinking of my family. And then I remember thinking, ‘If I did [kill myself], then it would give everybody who watches State of Mind the green light to do it too.’ ” And that stopped him from making that fatal choice.
The actress from General Hospital recalls, “I was asked why I believed I had bipolar disorder. “I always felt that God wanted me to suffer so I could stop other people from suffering,” I stated. That’s the secret to my giving you my whole attention right now. since I am aware that others are listening
