General Hospital’s Chris McKenna Reveals Bipolar Diagnosis for the First Time | State of Mind

On this State of Mind Sunday, Maurice Benard sits down with actor Chris McKenna (General Hospital’s Jack Brennan) for a raw, funny, and real conversation about his journey from childhood theater to daytime TV. Chris opens up about stage fright, confidence, career ups and downs, and how mental health—including bipolar disorder—has shaped his life and work. If you’re into honest stories, motivation, and conversations that actually help, hit subscribe and join the climb.

Key Timestamps – State of Mind w/ Chris McKenna

0:00 – Opening: Maurice’s intro & State of Mind theme
0:50 – Maurice introduces Chris McKenna (GH’s Jack Brennan + “my mom thinks he’s George Clooney”)
2:16 – Chris starts acting at 7; “I love you, Snow White” moment hooks him for life
3:24 – Stage fright as a kid makes him determined to never freeze again
8:53 – Growing up on soaps; bullied at school; not fitting in with kids his age
9:10 – Playing Erika Slezak’s (Viki Lord) son; calls her a great mentor
9:48 – High school life while working; balancing acting and school
11:20 – First kiss was on camera at 15, being replaced by Nathan Fillion
12:10 – Recalls being a teenager working with Lindsay Price, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kelly Ripa and more
13:44 – Working on King of the Ants film, other roles, and career ups & downs
15:56 – Story how Chris got role on General Hospital
19:44 – Reading with Laura Wright [Carly Corinthos] for GH role
21:07 – Maurice says accents are 'the kiss of death on soap operas'
21:50 – Getting GH role
22:28 – How Chris met his wife online and became a dad
23:27 – Pandemic & family crisis: mother’s devastating car accident; Chris moves back to Connecticut to care for her
28:00 – Chris reveals for the first time publicly: “I have bipolar disorder”
29:45 – Undiagnosed for decades: first teenage breakdown, lifelong cyclothymia, Covid depression & psychotic episode
32:50 – Maurice shares his own darkest anxiety/suicidal period during Covid and how Lexapro helped save his life
34:46 – Chris describes terrifying depression, fear of death, sleep anxiety, and self-medicating with alcohol & marijuana
41:34 – How he could feel his bipolar cycles coming and see them show up in his IMDb and career patterns
48:52 – Hospitalizations & psychotic break; marijuana use; triggers with first full bipolar episode
51:01 – “Touched With Fire”: realization he was using drugs to chase mania, not numb out
53:20 – Maurice references Kanye West while discussing bipolar, mania vs. depression, and how some people may embrace the highs and minimize the lows
54:05 – Bipolar, lithium & creativity: credits the illness for some drive and artistry
55:01 – How Chris stays stable now: meds, monitoring drinking, loving his work, purpose, family, and having a young son
1:04:18 – Maurice’s emotional closing: why Chris’s honesty will help others talk, get diagnosed, and seek help

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If you'd like to learn more about my life, I've recently released "Nothing General About It - How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital" https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062973371?...