Jenna Zeller remembers her brother Jake Zeller as witty, with the ability to make people feel loved, welcome and wanted.
“He had this old soul about him, and I think he was able to make friends very easily with people,” she said. “He was a great guy, a great brother, and we miss him.”
24-year-old Jake Zeller took his own life in December 2013. In the days after, his family faced a decision: “What do we tell people?”
“My dad looked at us and said, ‘We tell people the truth,’” said Jenna Zeller. “He said, ‘There’s nothing that would ever make us embarrassed or ashamed of Jake, and we’re not going to start now.’ That was such a relief.”
Courtesy of the Zeller family
Sam Zeller, left, and his twin brother Jake Zeller in 2012
The family’s decision to speak openly about their experience led them on a mission to end the stigma around mental illness and to help improve access to mental health services. Thirteen years later, their nonprofit Team Jakey has raised more than $500,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Provident Behavioral Health in St. Louis.
“If you donate a certain amount, they will quantify it for you and say, ‘$10,000 will see this many patients and give them care,’” Jenna Zeller said. “We have touched and been able to help thousands of people in St. Louis through our donations [to] Provident Behavioral Health.”
The nonprofit’s next fundraiser, Taps for Team Jakey, is tomorrow afternoon at 4 Hands Brewery in downtown St. Louis. The family-friendly event will offer live music, raffles, a mobile photo booth, a magician and conversations about mental health and how to access services.
Their annual event, Team Jakey Fest, will feature a cornhole tournament and live music from Trilogy, Steve Ewing Band and Samba Bom.
“We’re the fun aunts and uncles of mental health,” said Team Jakey executive director Logan Janis. “You might come to two, three, four, five Team Jakey events, and you might not ever talk to anyone, and that’s okay,” he said. “And then you might come [back], and you’re in a group chat now — you’ve made maybe a buddy. I think that’s it — being approachable, being accessible, and getting the word out there that there’s help — that’s what we’re here to do.”
![“As you can see, we put [Jake’s] face on everything that we possibly can,” said Jenna Zeller, who is pictured, on the right, alongside Team Jakey executive director Logan Janis.](https://www.bhnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1779302704_834_.jpeg)
“As you can see, we put [Jake’s] face on everything that we possibly can,” said Jenna Zeller, who is pictured, on the right, alongside Team Jakey executive director Logan Janis.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.
To learn more about Team Jakey events, and for a discussion on the importance of reaching out to those who might be struggling, listen to “St. Louis on the Air” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or click the play button below.
How Team Jakey fights mental health stigma
Related Events
What: Taps for Team Jakey
When: 4 p.m. – 9 May 21
Where: 4 Hands Brewery, 1220 S 8th St., St. Louis, MO 63104
What: 13th annual Team Jakey Fest
When: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sept. 19
Where: Knights of Columbus Council 2951, 50 Saint Francois St., Florissant, MO, 63031
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by Miya Norfleet, Emily Woodbury, Danny Wicentowski, Elaine Cha and Alex Heuer. Layla Halilbasic is our production assistant. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr.