The March 10 episode of State of Mind began with General Hospital star Maurice Benard declaring something important about his ongoing mental health conversation.
Discussing Depression
Benard has been an open book — literally — about his mental health struggles, most notably by publicly speaking about his bipolar disorder, which was even written into his GH character’s storyline. But there’s another element to his mental health the actor wanted his viewers to remember.
Benard spoke to his audience, noting he always talks about anxiety and bipolar disorder but doesn’t talk enough about depression. “I don’t want depression to feel left out,” he quipped.
Benard went on to get deep about his experiences with depression, explaining, “You feel heavy, don’t want to do anything, you’re caught up in the prison of your thoughts.”
“You get through it,” Benard repeated of the way depression makes you feel like you can’t bear it. “Whether you think you can’t or not…you can.”
Chatting About Loss
Benard’s guest was social media star Russell Butler, who spoke about his experience losing both of his parents within a month and the way he waved through grief and depression. “My mother — God rest her soul — loved you, loved General Hospital, had a crush on you,” he told Benard. Butler admitted how hard it is not having the two most important people who he wants to share things with, including being on Benard’s podcast.
Benard countered by telling Butler that his former GH co-star Vanessa Marcil is a big fan. “She’s great, she’s a hard worker — that’s what made her so good,” Benard spoke of the actress who had played Brenda Barrett off and on since 1992.
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