Chris McKenna is opening up about his health diagnosis. <\/p>\n
The \u201cGeneral Hospital\u201d star, 48, revealed he has bipolar disorder during an upcoming episode of co-star Maurice Benard\u2019s\u00a0\u201cState of Mind\u201d\u00a0podcast, per People<\/a>.<\/p>\n McKenna, who portrays Jack Brennan on the ABC soap, shared that his condition worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n Chris McKenna attends the Season 3 premiere of \u201cDriven\u201d on May 6, 2022. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cIt just lingered on and on \u2026 the monotony and not, like, moving on with my life,\u201d the actor explained. \u201cI was back at home and it really started to do a number on my mental health in particular.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnything, like, specific for you that happened as far as you want to talk about or anything?\u201d Benard, 62, inquired.<\/p>\n McKenna took the opportunity to open up about his disorder. <\/p>\n Maurice Benard attends the 2025 Astra TV Awards at SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills on June 10, 2025. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll talk about the fact that I have bipolar disorder,\u201d he divulged. \u201cThis is the first time I\u2019m ever talking about it publicly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, from one bipolar to another bipolar,\u201d Benard responded, \u201chow you doing, brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing good right now,\u201d McKenna confessed. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t always been the case, but I\u2019m good right now.\u201d <\/p>\n Chris McKenna in a scene with Laura Wright on \u201cGH.\u201d Disney<\/p>\n Chris McKenna as Jack Brennan on the long-running soap. Disney<\/p>\n The soap star previously struggled with drugs and alcohol.<\/p>\n \u201cI had my first breakdown when I was a teenager and then lived my whole life with this disorder undiagnosed,\u201d McKenna added, \u201cwhich is fascinating in retrospect.\u201d <\/p>\n The ABC vet also experienced \u201cheavy\u00a0cyclothemia,\u201d which is a mood disorder that \u201ccauses emotional ups and downs,\u201d per the\u00a0Mayo Clinic<\/a>, during COVID. <\/p>\n Maurice Benard on \u201cGeneral Hospital.\u201d Disney<\/p>\n Chris McKenna stands in the hospital during a scene in the soap. Disney<\/p>\n \u201c[It triggered] my first dangerous depression since [I was] a teenager, which was followed by a manic psychotic episode which required hospitalization.\u201d<\/p>\n At one point, McKenna dealt with delusions and believed he could read minds. Despite thinking it was from marijuana use, the television writer eventually accepted his diagnosis once he was hospitalized.<\/p>\n \u201cI finally got my diagnosis that I needed my whole life and got on medication, and that\u2019s where I am today.\u201d <\/p>\n Anthony Geary, Genie Francis, Holly Gagnier in a 2015 episode. \u00a9ABC\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Benard, who has played mob boss Sonny Corinthos for three decades, was first diagnosed with\u00a0bipolar disorder\u00a0at age 22.<\/p>\n And when he joined the soap in 1993, the \u201cAll My Children\u201d alum initially thought it would be short-lived.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first started \u2026 I had my third manic episode,\u201d Benard told The Post in 2023<\/a>. <\/p>\n Greg Vaughan, Kirsten Storms in a scene from \u201cGeneral Hospital.\u201d \u00a9ABC\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n Kin Shriner attends the 42nd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Universal Hilton Hotel on April 24, 2015. WireImage<\/p>\n \u201cSo it sticks in my head how loyal and incredible they were not to fire me. If I want to leave or something, I always think about that time.\u201d<\/p>\n Benard has taken home three Daytime Emmys for his role. <\/p>\n In 2023, the soap, which remains the longest-running scripted drama on TV, celebrated 60 years on air.<\/p>\n The secret to success is \u201ca lot of hard work\u201d and \u201cfans who are more loyal than any fans in the whole world,\u201d Benard detailed.<\/p>\n \u201cI watched it when I was sick when I was about 13,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI watched \u2018All My Children\u2019 and \u2018General Hospital,\u2019 and I ended up being on both shows.\u201d <\/p>\n Sofia Mattson on \u201cGeneral Hospital.\u201d Disney via Getty Images<\/p>\n Anthony Geary and Robin Christopher. \u00a9ABC\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n Over the years, \u201cGeneral Hospital\u201d has\u00a0had a series of cast shakeups<\/a>. <\/p>\n In October, Kirsten Storms revealed she was temporarily leaving Port Charles<\/a> to undergo surgery for an aneurysm.<\/p>\n She had portrayed Maxie since 2005. <\/p>\n Sofia Mattsson left in July after seven years, while Eva LaRue announced her abrupt departure<\/a> in August. She left after just one year of playing Natalia Rogers-Ramirez, the love interest to Sonny.<\/p>\n Kirsten Storms as Maxie Jones. Disney<\/p>\n Chris McKenna on March 22, 2024. Getty Images for Passionflix<\/p>\n \u201cI had a blast at\u00a0\u2018General Hospital,\u2019\u201d LaRue, 58, shared at the time. \u201cI loved being there and I had a lot of really great scenes and I loved everybody that I got to work with. It was just an awesome experience, and I was really glad that I got to stay longer than I was supposed to.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly Monaco also blasted the soap\u00a0last summer\u00a0after she was fired following 21 years.<\/a> <\/p>\n