Chris McKenna, the 48-year-old star of General Hospital, has bravely shared his journey with mental health, revealing for the first time publicly that he has been living with bipolar disorder for three decades. "I had my first breakdown as a teenager and carried this undiagnosed disorder throughout my life," he shared in a preview of his Dec. 21 appearance on the State of Mind podcast, as seen in a video by People. "Looking back, it's fascinating."
He further elaborated on the challenges he has faced since his teenage years, describing his rare mood disorder as "heavy cyclocemia" and how it culminated during COVID-19 when he experienced his first dangerous depression since his youth, followed by a manic psychotic episode that required hospitalization.
Chris, who joined the long-running soap opera in February 2025, explained that being stuck at home during the pandemic "really took a toll on my mental health," and it was then that he had to start taking it seriously. "That's when I finally got my diagnosis that I needed my whole life," he added, "and got on medication."
He shared that he "went to two mental institutions" due to having delusions and thinking he could read minds. However, he called the experience "really fascinating" and shared that he "had a really positive experience." Nevertheless, he did add that being an adult made a difference in that he was the one who signed himself in. "They couldn't keep me unless I signed myself in, and I did," he reflected, before recalling his spouse Lovisa McKenna, "I remember the look on my wife's face of pride."
While host Maurice Benard, who has also been open about his bipolar disorder, shared how tough it is to take that step, Chris noted with determination, "But I did it." His story serves as an inspiring reminder of the importance of seeking help and support in our mental health journeys.
