General Hospital’s Chris McKenna Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder

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Chris McKenna is providing insight into his mental health journey.

For the first time, 48-year-old General Hospital actor has revealed he’s lived with bipolar disorder for the past thirty years.

He revealed in a preview of his December 21st podcast interview that he experienced his first mental health crisis as a teenager, but the underlying issue went undiagnosed for years. Looking back, he finds this quite remarkable.

He then went on to explain the challenges he’s faced since his teen years.

He explained that he has a rare mood disorder, which caused severe emotional swings. This led to a dangerous bout of depression during his COVID illness – the worst he’d experienced since his teenage years – and ultimately resulted in a psychotic episode that required him to be hospitalized.

Chris, who began playing a role on the popular soap opera in February 2025, shared that being isolated at home during the pandemic significantly impacted his mental health, prompting him to seek help.

“That’s when I finally got my diagnosis that I needed my whole life,” the One Life to Live alum added, “and got on medication.”

He explained that he’d been hospitalized twice for mental health reasons, stemming from delusions and the belief he could read minds. Surprisingly, he described the experience as “really fascinating” and overall positive. He also noted that being an adult and voluntarily admitting himself made a significant difference.

He explained that they would only let him stay if he registered himself, which he did. He then remembered his wife, Lovisa McKenna, and said, “I’ll never forget the proud look on her face.”

Maurice Benard, the host and someone who has publicly discussed his own bipolar disorder, talked about how difficult it can be to open up. Chris, however, simply stated, “But I did it.”

For more stars who have opened up about their mental health, read on. 

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He said he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and taking medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said that his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, along with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was pregnant with their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared experiencing a severe mental health episode that he might not recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, explaining that he experienced what he called “body dysmorphia” as a young actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they deeply disliked their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, he gained weight and then found himself caught up in a cycle of trying to improve his appearance. He felt that in the wake of depression and feeling isolated, his worth and success seemed tied to how conventionally attractive he was perceived to be.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to things with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” On the The Funny Thing Is podcast, she admitted that food was her main coping mechanism and that she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described this combination as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She explained that she struggles with eating and body image, which are genuine challenges for her. However, she’s working to overcome these issues and is focusing on a healthy lifestyle by nourishing her body with good food.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist frequently discusses how she safeguards her well-being, like blocking negativity online, and often offers guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that the most important thing is patience. She explained that she was patient with herself, didn’t rush any decisions, and allowed difficult feelings to pass with time. She believes that, ultimately, things do get better.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.

She recently tweeted about struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to know whether the virus itself or the resulting feelings of depression are more difficult. Katy explained that she often finds peace and comfort in her car, which has become a sort of refuge for her when she’s feeling overwhelmed.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Honestly, my moods are all over the place – some days I feel great, others I’m just a total mess with anxiety. That’s actually why I had to get involved with this – I just want people to know they’re not the only ones who feel this way. It’s about connection, you know? I really, really hope I can help people feel less alone.

The actor who plays Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s important to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, ‘Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.’

The actress from Empire has often talked about her experiences with depression and strongly believes in getting professional support. She once explained to Variety that seeing a therapist is essential for her to cope.

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began MDMA and psilocybin therapy – a treatment for PTSD – after struggling with both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she was touring without feeling nervous for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This experience made her understand how much she thrives on, and even needs, that intense, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

As a lifestyle expert, I often hear women describe a similar feeling – a desire to disconnect from expectations around traditional femininity. For me, personally, when I decided to stop taking birth control, it felt like I was cutting ties with a very prescribed idea of what it meant to be a woman. It sounds a little out there, I know, but it was like stepping off the map, freeing myself from those limitations. And honestly, that’s when I felt like I could truly explore who I was and what I wanted, allowing so many new possibilities to emerge.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, stating that it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer behind the song “What He Didn’t Do” has been open about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the Bunnie Xo‘s Dumb Blonde podcast in August 2025 that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. But a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. I discovered I’ve been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child – it wasn’t something that started recently in 2020.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speeches and on social media like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, consciously focusing on ten positive aspects of life for every negative thought, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has bravely shared her experiences with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about her experience. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to make those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy within herself, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to be happy on her own.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a joke on Twitter about her own therapy. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on multiple occasions.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. She reminded me that I didn’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has openly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction and mental health, and she often incorporates these personal experiences into her songs.

She often encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She previously shared on Instagram, “To anyone who’s struggling: life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her work – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

Zendaya has spoken about experiencing anxiety after a 2013 appearance on Ellen, when her microphone malfunctioned. She shared this in a post on an old app of hers. Since then, she’s found ways to cope with these feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

I’ve been talking a lot lately about the importance of being open about mental health, and it really resonated with me when a singer recently shared her own experience with WSJ Magazine. She described it so honestly, saying her good days were incredibly high, but when she struggled, it could really knock her out for weeks. It’s a powerful reminder that mental health isn’t always linear, and it’s okay to have those extreme ups and downs.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

In 2018, while accepting a Global Changemakers Award at a fundraiser, she shared that she’d been hesitant to talk about her mental health, both in public and private. However, she firmly believes that keeping things hidden actually makes it harder to heal.

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2025-12-19 01:52