Prevention

John Ackerman, PhD
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
John.Ackerman@NationwideChildrens.org

John Ackerman, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist and suicide prevention clinical manager for the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, Ohio, where he supports schools, healthcare systems and youth-serving organizations in implementing sustainable, evidence-based suicide prevention programs. He and his team support the implementation of the SOS Signs of Suicide program (SOS) with enhanced depression and suicide screening and have reached more than 100,000 students across central and southeastern Ohio through these school-based prevention efforts. Dr. Ackerman has supported the development of innovative, developmentally tailored interventions including SPACES for Boys & Girls Clubs, Be Present Ohio: the Online Experience (a gamified suicide prevention curriculum for teens), and Little Acts which is a prevention program for elementary students. Dr. Ackerman is faculty with the Zero Suicide Institute and provides training and consultation on evidence-based suicide care in pediatric healthcare settings, while also supporting school and community postvention efforts following youth suicide. His research focuses on mood disorders and youth suicide, neurocognitive risk factors, suicide-related media reporting and digital health approaches to prevention. He serves as a co-investigator on multiple PCORI-funded projects examining school-based prevention programs such as SOS and Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), as well as interventions to improve youth sleep health. Dr. Ackerman has also co-edited an open-access book highlighting best practices and policy strategies to address youth suicide.

Amberle Prater, PhD, LPCC-S 
Clinical Lead Supervisor
Amberle.Prater@NationwideChildrens.org

Amberle Prater, PhD, LPCC-S, is a clinical counselor and clinical lead supervisor for the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) at Nationwide Children’s. In this role, she leads efforts to reduce youth suicide by supporting hospital systems, schools and community partnerships with youth-serving organizations.

Dr. Prater oversees the planning and implementation of evidence-based suicide prevention programs in schools, including the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program, enhanced to strengthen suicide risk and depression screening processes. She and her team provide prevention programming across central and southeast Ohio, delivering training and consultation to promote safe, effective approaches to youth suicide prevention.

Her work also includes collaboration on hospital and community postvention efforts, integrating current research on risk factors and evidence-based interventions. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Dr. Prater continues to provide clinical services to youth and families.

Dr. Prater is actively engaged in research aimed at improving implementation of best practices in youth suicide prevention. Her work includes contributions to a PICORI-funded project examining evidence-based programs of Signs of Suicide (SOS) and Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM).

She has a particular interest in serving youth and families in the Appalachian region, with additional areas of focus including trauma and grief, families of first responders, foster and adoptive care, developmental disabilities and juvenile justice.

Melanie Fluellen, LPCC-S
Suicide Prevention Specialist
Melanie.Fluellen@NationwideChildrens.org

Melanie Fluellen, LPCC‑S, is a licensed professional clinical counselor and suicide prevention specialist with Nationwide Children’s. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from The Ohio State University and a master of science in education and allied professions from the University of Dayton.

For nearly two decades, Melanie has served as a clinician across multiple behavioral health programs at Nationwide Children’s. Her clinical experience includes working with young children, adolescents and teens who have experienced trauma related to sexual abuse, physical abuse and exposure to domestic violence.

Melanie currently works with the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s. In this role, she supports schools in implementing the SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program, delivers suicide‑prevention‑focused community trainings and provides ongoing clinical counseling for teens experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

Stephanie Castine, LISW
Suicide Prevention Specialist
Stephanie.Mielke@NationwideChildrens.org

Stephanie is a licensed independent social worker in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. Stephanie graduated from The Ohio State University College of Social Work with a master’s degree in Social Work and a concentration in Mental Health and Substance Abuse. In addition to prevention services, Stephanie provides direct outpatient clinical services. Stephanie has been at Nationwide Children’s for more than five years and is experienced in delivering evidence-based interventions, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). 

Rachel Jones, LPCC-S
Suicide Prevention Specialist
Rachel.Jones@NationwideChildrens.org

Rachel Jones, LPCC-S, is a licensed professional clinical counselor and suicide prevention specialist in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. She collaborates with Ohio middle and high schools to implement evidence-based suicide prevention programming including the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program and Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM). Rachel began her career at Nationwide Children’s in 2011 working in clinical research. After graduating with her master’s degree in clinical counseling from The Ohio State University, she began working in Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children’s as a clinician, treating children, adolescents and their families in outpatient and community settings. In her current role, Rachel continues to provide outpatient counseling to teens who struggle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and behaviors. Rachel volunteers as a parent-surrogate for special education students in central Ohio and serves as a grief counselor at Camp Lionheart each July.

Micah Morgan, LPC
Suicide Prevention Specialist
Micah.Morgan@NationwideChildrens.org

Micah Morgan, LPC, is a licensed professional clinical counselor and suicide prevention specialist with Nationwide Children’s. In her role, she assists schools with implementing the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program and provides outpatient clinical counseling for adolescents. Her work also involves providing youth suicide prevention consultation and training to Faith communities and organizations specializing in services for Black/African-American families. Micah received her undergraduate degree in philosophy from Ohio University and a master of arts degree in clinical mental health counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary. Micah has served as a clinician in various behavioral health programs including community-based mental health, employee assistance programs and private practice. She has experience treating adults, couples and teens that have a trauma history. She is skilled in integrating cultural issues like stage of life, family of origin and attachment and issues stemming from the Black/ African-American cultural experience into the treatment process.

Fatimah Masood, MPH, LSW
Suicide Prevention Specialist
Fatimah.Masood@NationwideChildrens.org

Fatimah Masood is a licensed social worker and Suicide Prevention Specialist at the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. In her role, she provides outpatient clinical services to youth experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior, utilizing evidence-based therapeutic approaches. As a biostatistician on the research team, Fatimah conducts data-driven research focused on advancing suicide prevention strategies and improving mental health outcomes. Fatimah serves as a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the community-based behavioral health team, the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Mental Health Taskforce at Noor Islamic Community Center, and the Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health Coalition through CRIS. She holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology from The Ohio State University (2019), an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Boston University (2022) and an MSW from The Ohio State University (2024).

Ben Miller
Project Specialist
Benjamin.Miller@NationwideChildrens.org

Ben is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor serving as a project specialist within the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) focusing on the development and implementation of programming and trainings related to Suicide Prevention. He has been working within Nationwide Children’s Hospital since 2016. Prior to joining CSPR, he was a full time clinician with experience working in Community Based Crisis and Autism services, Inpatient Psychiatric services, outpatient therapy for adults and adolescents, parent training, and crisis interventions for suicidal/homicidal ideation and psychosis in the Psychiatric Crisis Department. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 2015 and his Masters of Education in Clinical Counseling from the University of Dayton in 2020.

Shannon Gregory
Caring Contacts Manager
Shannon.Gregory@NationwideChildrens.org

Shannon Gregory serves as the Caring Contacts manager for the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her work includes following up with youth at risk of suicide and their families after a hospital discharge via evidence-based interventions to enhance continuity of care and achieve best outcomes. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ohio University and her master’s degree in counseling from Michigan State University. Prior to joining CSPR, Shannon served as a K-12 Licensed School Counselor for 16 years, which included implementing the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program, conducting risk assessments and safety planning, developing district-wide suicide safety protocols and helping lead the district’s crisis response team.

Kelsie Spencer
Suicide Prevention Specialist
Kelsie.Spencer@NationwideChildrens.org

Kelsie is a Licensed Social Worker and Suicide Prevention Specialist with the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. In her role she assists schools in Ohio with implementing the SOS Signs of Suicide Program while helping community members understand what it means to be a trusted adult. Kelsie provides clinical outpatient counseling to adolescents who are experiencing depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation using evidence-based treatment in collaboration with families and teens to reach their goals. Kelsie received her undergraduate degree in social work with a minor in deaf studies at Wright State University and received her master of social work degree from The Ohio State University with a focus on mental health and substance use. Kelsie is experienced in providing various mental health services to individuals and families of all ages through community-based crisis counseling, school-based counseling, inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment. Prior to her current role, Kelsie joined Nationwide Children’s as a clinical medical social worker in Endocrinology, supporting families who experience distress related to Endocrine-related diagnoses including diabetes and PCOS. She continues to collaborate with the Medical Social Work department through the Settlement Opportunities and Resources (SOAR) workgroup to support an equitable and inclusive hospital experience for patients and families.