GH’s Maurice Benard celebrated a very heartfelt goal of 100,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, State Of Mind, on February 6th. The actor started the video podcast in October of 2019 with just him talking about his struggle with mental health during the pandemic and evolved into sit-down interviews with other celebrities and everyday people shining a light on everything from depression, grief, body image, and discrimination, to homelessness and overcoming disability.
Maurice Benard: The Journey Of A Lifetime
Mental health has always been a subject that Benard (Sonny Corinthos) is passionate about. After a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at the tender age of 20, the actor has struggled to maintain a healthy balance between therapy and medication, as chronicled in this best-selling memoir, Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital. During the pandemic, he added a new weapon to his healing arsenal – the power of the Internet.
Through his video podcast, Benard not only found a healing space for himself but was able to touch a wider audience with weekly discussions offering insight into many different kinds of mental health issues. Issues that his guests and audience were familiar with but were often hesitant to discuss. State Of Mind opened the closed door and started the conversation.
In the About section on his channel, Benard describes what it means to him. “State of Mind to me means being 100% present, feeling completely at peace inside of you, not letting your thoughts control your life, and always looking for ways to be the best that you can be.” Fans couldn’t agree more and come back every week to digest his latest offering.
His guests span from fellow cast members from General Hospital and other soap operas, celebrities, sports figures, and mental health experts. Viewers can expect real-world insights, heartwarming stories, and tips to promote their own healing journeys. It is not a medical show. Just real people sharing their stories.
State Of Mind: The Next Step
There have been talks about a television show, sponsors, and more A-List guests in the future, with fans posting suggestions on the channel and social media. Chatter between past guests has led to more guests signing on. A buzz has begun about the show, and it continues to build momentum.
As State Of Mind continues to grow and the word spreads on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, Benard vows to keep going. Keep spreading the word about the importance of mental health and keep talking about subjects that people were hesitant to verbalize. Keep talking to people who have been touched by the various degrees of mental health issues.
Soap Hub congratulates Benard on 100,000 subscribers. Here’s to 200,000 and beyond!
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