2nd staff bio: Kevin Knott

Good morning readers and TGIF,

I humbly present to you the second installment in our Gero-Psych staff bio series.  Kevin did me a big favor by taking the time to do this.  Thanks Kevin!

Hello my name is Kevin Knott and I received my Bachelor Degree in 1985 from Campbellsville College and obtained the Master of Social Work Degree from Indiana University in 1988. I have practiced in mental health since 1988. Initially my experience was working in a rural setting in Indiana serving populations of all ages including children and adults. My first work setting afforded me the opportunity to begin working in close proximity to professionals of various backgrounds in mental health including nurses, behavioral clinicians and psychiatrists to mention a few and this continues today.  I have been employed with Meridian Services for about 16 years and initially worked in the New Castle office serving the chronically mentally ill population and many of these individuals have had a persistent mental illness for many years including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or PTSD just to name a few. Staying with the same company I began to work again as an outpatient therapist, as early on in my career, seeing mostly adults and providing services to them on an outpatient basis. It was discovered that the Henry County office could benefit from  providing access services to individuals and families in which most of the  responsibilities  involved assessing emergency situations and evaluating individuals for  either outpatient follow services or consulting with a psychiatrist to help seek hospitalization for those in a crisis state. During this time I continued to provide services, as I now do, to the afterhours emergency team with Meridian Services completing consults for individuals in crisis at the office, county hospital or other local agency. I have had the opportunity to serve on the afterhours emergency team for about 13 years and continue to see this as an opportunity to provide services to our population. In 1998 I had the privilege to begin working with a geriatric psychiatrist at Meridian Services providing counseling and consultation to the geriatric population in the area including nursing homes and in our local office. This really began to appeal to me as I felt this was a valuable service to those in our community and then the opportunity to begin work at the Meridian Services Geriatric Psychiatry unit became available and I have been here for the last 3 years on a daily basis.

Work on the geriatric psychiatry unit has afforded me the opportunity to provide counseling services to a population that has given a lot to our society. The individuals in this age group have provided opportunities to those of us considered “baby boomers” which were never possible before. I do the work daily because I strongly believe in helping others, more particularly ,those in this geriatric age group who have given a lot to our society and have witnessed first hand such difficulties as a great depression or a world without the advanced medical care we presently have.. A kind word to a family member of a loved one who  has dementia, a thankful heart and listening ear to someone who has lost a spouse and experienced many life changes and a supportive stance towards those who have had to battle with a persistent mental illness their entire adult life is what the work is all about. I strongly also believe I have seen those who have walked through our doors receiving treatment and leaving being able to move forward with a better handle on the mental illness that has for some reason in parted upon their lives and to hold their heads up with a stronger sense of well-being and dignity.

I am involved in my own community including serving on a local school board and involved in my church. I enjoy reading American History, watching sporting events and spending time with my family.

As has been said before “Act as if what you do makes a difference, it does”.

Have a great weekend!