The National Alliance on Mental Illness Eastside (NAMI Eastside) is celebrating its 10th anniversary at its annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011.

The celebration will be at the Redmond Regional Library, 15990 NE 85th Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Mental illnesses cross all boundaries, racial barriers and economic groups. The NAMI Eastside mission is to improve the lives of people affected by chronic, debilitating mental illness. Our goal is to ease the pain of victims, their families, friends and employers through education, programs, support and advocacy,” said Mike Rynas, president and cofounder of NES. “The general public only hears about mental illness crises, thus contributing to stigma. In tough economic times, as government agencies continue to cut back NAMI Eastside services are in greater demand than ever before.”

Mental illness affects 20 percent of U.S. families and five to seven percent of the adult population. Many people with chronic depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other illnesses function in society with and without the aid of psychotropic medications and therapy.