General Hospital’s Chris McKenna Opens Up About His Mental Health Journey
In a deeply personal and emotional conversation, General Hospital star Chris McKenna has spoken candidly about his long and difficult struggle with mental health—one that went undiagnosed for most of his life and nearly cost him everything.
McKenna, best known to daytime fans for his role as Brennan on General Hospital and to longtime soap viewers as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live, appeared on the latest installment of Maurice Benard’s State of Mind. During the interview, the actor revealed that he has been living with bipolar disorder for decades without realizing it.
“I lived my whole life with this disorder undiagnosed,” McKenna shared. He explained that his condition manifested as cyclothymia, a chronic mood disorder characterized by recurring periods of mild depression and hypomania—often considered a milder form of bipolar disorder. While the symptoms didn’t always appear extreme on the surface, they quietly shaped his emotional life for years.
Everything came to a head during the COVID pandemic. McKenna described that period as a breaking point, when he experienced his most dangerous depressive episode since his teenage years. That depression was followed by a manic psychotic episode severe enough to require hospitalization.
“That’s when I finally got the diagnosis that I needed my whole life,” he said.
Following his hospitalization, McKenna began treatment with lithium, a medication commonly used to stabilize mood in people with bipolar disorder. That treatment marked a turning point in his life—one that brought clarity to decades of confusion and emotional pain.
Looking back on his darkest moments, the actor did not shy away from describing how bleak things became. He recalled being paralyzed by an overwhelming fear of death and feeling unable to understand the purpose of continuing to live.
“I couldn’t figure out what the point of living was or how I’d ever find joy again,” McKenna admitted. “I tried to believe I’d find it, but it was nothing but bleak, dark thoughts.”
Even sleep offered no refuge. McKenna shared that he was often afraid to fall asleep, worried he might not wake up. The fear and despair were so intense that he sometimes turned to alcohol or marijuana just to get through the night. At the time, he said, it felt as though there was no way out.
Thankfully, that chapter is no longer where his story ends.
Today, McKenna says he is doing much better, crediting proper diagnosis, medication, and self-awareness for helping him reclaim stability and hope. By speaking openly about his experiences, he joins a growing number of actors using their platforms to shed light on mental health struggles and reduce the stigma surrounding them.
McKenna’s story is a powerful reminder that mental illness can go unnoticed for years, even in people who appear successful and fulfilled on the outside—and that seeking help, though daunting, can be life-saving.
