'General Hospital's Maurice Benard Almost Ended His Life Amid Struggle With Bipolar Disorder
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General Hospital star Maurice Benard got candid about his mental health struggles in a new interview with People.
The soap opera veteran was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1985. He first experienced symptoms during a two-week period that year when he had out-of-character, violent outbursts. It got to the point where he became aggressive towards his mother, prompting his parents to call the police.
"My dad's crying; my mom's crying, but the cops couldn't do anything because I became normal," he said. "And then the next morning, they took me to the mental institution."
His experience of being institutionalized was traumatic.
"It was just really scary in there," he said. "I was tied down from my wrist, my waist and my ankles. And all I wanted to do was escape the whole time I was there. ‘Get me outta here! Get me outta here! Get me out!’ They didn't know what I had for about a month, maybe two months."
Benard also noted that during the lockdown period of the pandemic, his struggles with his bipolar disorder led to him having suicidal thoughts.
"I thought about it every day," he admitted.
While doing virtual press for his book Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital, he wished he could share what he was dealing with at the time: "What I really wanted to say was, 'I'm gonna die. Can somebody please save me?'"
Though he had suicidal ideations, he did "everything that [he] possibly could to survive."
Benard recounted the realization that stopped him from taking his life.
He recalled: "I ran to my house, 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 [his mental health podcast] State of Mind the green light to do it too.'"
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
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