Daytime Drama Lead Actor, Maurice Benard and National Mental Health Association Roll Out Awareness CampaignNational Mental Health Association Throughout his life, both on and off screen, Maurice Bernard has played many challenging roles --as Desi Arnez, in the television movie Luci and Desi: Before the Laughter, and as elusive Sonny Corinthos on ABC's Daytime Drama, General Hospital. But none of these roles has been as challenging as his real-life role as Maurice Benard, fighting a lifelong battle against bipolar disorder. After a series of personal events ranging from being misdiagnosed with a brain virus and being told he had 6 months to live, Maurice was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 22. At that time, not much was known about bipolar disorder, so none of his friends or family recognized the warning signs prior to his first episode. After visiting several doctors, he finally saw one who diagnosed him with bipolar disorder. Only then was he able to get the treatment needed to stablize his condition. As a result of his personal experience with the illness, Maurice is teaming up with the NMHA to promote awareness of bipolar disorder through his participation in the Bipolar Disorder: Do You Know It? Public Awareness campaign.  The reason? Currently, an estimated 2.5 million Americans live with bipolar disorder. As many as 80 percent of individuals with the disorder go un- or misdiagnosed, are unaware of their illness and are not receiving help. Because symptoms mirror those of other diseases, such as anxiety, substance abuse and depression, the illness is commonly misdiagnosed. It is estimated that people with bipolar disorder will consult four doctors and receive 3.5 misdiagnoses in an 8-10 year time period before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Also, it is believed that the stigma and stereotypes associated with bipolar disorder may discourage people who may have the illness from seeking an accurate diagnosis. Bipolar disorder is often a life-long condition with wide mood swings that range from high (manic) to low (depressed) states. Periods of distinctly high moods are called "manic" episodes, during which an individual may become very active. A person's behavior during a manic episode is often dramatic, sometimes leading to spending sprees, rash business decisions, erratic driving and sexual indiscretions. The vast majority of people who have manic experiences will also experience periods of severe depression. Symptoms of depression may include loss of interest or pleasure; a distinctly low or irritable mood; change in appetite and sleep patterns; fatigue; and thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts. Join Maurice Benard and Charles Ingoglia, NMHA on Tuesday, January 28th as they discuss:
For more information on bipolar disorder or the "Do You Know It?" campaign, please contact: www.nmha.org or 1-800-969-NMHA.
For more information, or to contact National Mental Health Association, see their website at: www.nmha.org |
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