On hope’s side: Knapp helps students through struggles

Jeff Knapp, associate director of counseling and psychological services (CAPS) in the UNMC Division of Student Success, said the level of stress many feel or have felt during the pandemic is not what’s unusual.

"All this burnout, feeling run down, feeling unsure, these are all normal feelings," he said.

The difference over these past few years?

"We’re just all, as the whole world, feeling it at the same time," he said.

But the silver lining, Knapp said, is that the pandemic has helped bring mental health into the mainstream. It’s become something that everyone talks about now. And that helps those who are trying to help, even as the overall need is greater than ever.

Speaking to the larger public conversation, Knapp said, "I absolutely love it. Even talking with our student senators and how they want mental health services to be on the forefront, I thought to myself, 'This is such a refreshing thing.'"

Knapp and his colleagues hope the stigma of asking for help has been lessened after the last couple of years.

"If I have a pain in my hand, I’m going to the doctor for a pain in my hand," he said. "I don’t mind talking about that."

He continued: "The more we can talk about those things, you quickly realize your best friend also feels that way. You don’t feel so alone."

Knapp, a licensed mental health practitioner with a master’s degree in social work, came to UNMC from Completely KIDS, where he was director of school-based programs. He worked previously at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in a number of roles and also works in private practice.

He hopes to help counseling and psychological services be not just something students go to but also a collaborative presence on campus in multiple settings — to be preventative as well as responsive.

How does he maintain his noticeably upbeat attitude, despite meeting people at some of their toughest moments?

"I’m on the hope side of things," he said. "My energy is on the solution, not the problem. I want to help someone address that issue and feel better. And that’s exciting, and that’s invigorating."