Maurice Benard, who stars in General Hospital, had a recent mental health battle that was particularly challenging. It’s no surprise that bad mental health can profoundly impact an actor’s career.
It can affect an actor’s performance, attendance, and overall well-being, sometimes necessitating time away from work. In a similar incident, Maurice recently opened up about his mental health on his podcast, “State of Mind.” Read further to know what the actor had to share!
Behind Maurice Benard’s Hiatus from GH
The General Hospital star typically interviews guests, like he recently invited his co-stars Steve Burton, Eva LaRue, and Michael Easton. The 20-minute episode titled “True Friendship,” released on July 7, 2024. However, this time Benard took a break from his usual format and sat alone to share his personal struggles.
Sitting alone in front of the camera, Benard talked about his recent bout with anxiety. He began, “I don’t want to relive it, I just want to tell the story of what happened.” Moreover, the actor explained that Sonny’s storyline might have influenced his mental state. His character, Sonny, suffers from bipolar disorder and is off medication.
Sadly, Maurice described experiencing severe anxiety and insomnia while home alone. It even led him to seek help from multiple doctors and friends. He recounted one uneasy night when he reached out to a friend, who called another friend, and they prayed for him together. “It’s amazing the compassion that people have,” the ABC soap legend noted.
These friends were none other than his GH co-stars, Steve Burton and Jonathan Jackson. Benard’s anxiety was so intense that he had to take two weeks off from work. “I knew I had to go to work… and I knew I couldn’t go to work, the way I was feeling.” Maurice lauded GH executive producer Frank Valentini for his understanding.
Let’s face it: if he had needed more time off, they would have had to recast his role. After returning to work, Benard faced the daunting task of filming eight episodes in just two days. He teased, “I’m not going to tell you what it was, but you’ll see. It’s pretty intense.”
Benard’s candid discussion about his mental health emphasizes the importance of compassion and support in overcoming such challenges. Don’t forget to be there for your loved ones. Keep checking out Soap Opera Daily for more General Hospital celeb updates! Check out Maurice’s State of Mind podcast on YouTube and share your views.
