General Hospital star and mental health advocate Maurice Benard has taken full advantage of Throwback Thursday to relive, not only a harrowing moment from his past and his wife’s shared past but the platform on which they first shared it.
In addition to a video excerpt taken from a long-ago appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show, Benard’s Instagram post includes a lengthy recollection of that trying day. “My son Joshua showed me this yesterday and it’s been [a long] time since I’ve seen it.
“As I watch it it hurts my heart to watch the fear in Paula’s eyes remembering what happened that night. [Oprah] was very sweet to Paula, Paula didn’t want to do the show. She wasn’t feeling well she was eight months pregnant, but Oprah said please Paula you would be helping a lot of people. That was about 30 years ago and I haven’t shut up about mental illness since and you know what I never will.”
Benard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 22, and in the ensuing years, he has used his public platform to educate his fans, and the daytime community at large, about the illness. The much-beloved performer has made numerous appearances on high-profile T.V. programs to discuss his condition, including The Dr. Drew Show, Dr. Oz, and, of course, The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Since July 2020, Benard has hosted a videocast series titled State of Mind which has featured a plethora of his soap opera colleagues, as well as his family members, opening up about their own struggles; issues have ranged from depression to eating disorders and from the effects of overt and stealth racism on the psyche to substance abuse.
Benard has been married to Paula Smith since August 11, 1990. The couple has four children: Cailey Sofia (born 18th September 1994), Cassidy Rose (born 18th April 1999), Joshua James (born 5th December 2004), and Heather Ann (adopted 20th April 2008).
Be sure to check out the shared interview excerpt below, and for access to the State of Mind archive, click here. General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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