AMP in the post
General Hospital fans have long admired two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Maurice Benard for his mental health advocacy. So it comes as no surprise that in these troubling and troubled times that he’s reaching out with some tips for facing coronavirus-related anxiety.
Benard, who plays Sonny Corinthos on the ABC soap, posted a video to fans on his Instagram relaying he himself was experiencing a bit of anxiety in regard to recent events, and he goes on to share a bit of insight for dealing with such feelings.
General Hospital Spoilers – Maurice Benard has been a mental health advocate for years
You can check out more of Benard’s sage advice and observations at his State of Mine site which he uses as a platform for mental health advocacy.
On the site he explains that “State of Mind to me means being 100% present, feeling completely at peace inside of you, not letting your thoughts control your life and always looking for ways to be the best that you can be.”
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In 2009, on an episode of “Oprah,” Benard opened up about living with bipolar disorder and in so doing helped millions of people get the help they need. His story is inspirational, and he has been honest about his struggles in numerous candid interviews. HarperCollins is publishing his upcoming book, Nothing General About It: How Love and Lithium Saved Me On and Off General Hospital, a memoir of his life’s journey.
GH Spoilers – Maurice Benard has been recognized with numerous awards in the mental health community
Benard understands the power of his celebrity and he has lent his voice to numerous organizations on the front lines of mental health awareness, including International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF), the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America (MHA) and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.
In turn, the talented and generous actor has received numerous awards, including IBF’s Imagine Award, NAMI’s Lionel Aldridge Award, and the Erasing the Stigma Award alongside Carrie Fischer and Rod Steiger.
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Over the years Benard has testified in front of Congress on mental health issues, been the keynote speaker at the annual conference for The National Manic Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association and addressed the student body at the University of San Diego.
General Hospital Spoilers – What’s next for Maurice Benard’s character Sonny Corinthos?
Benard celebrated 25 years playing the iconic mobster Sonny Corinthos in 2018. He debuted in 1993, and was originally meant to be a temp player. Fans went wild for his enthusiastic and nuanced portrayal of the conflicted young man, and well, the rest is history!
Currently, Sonny is up to hears in mob wars, so be sure to tune in and see what he does next.