The impact of social change on child mental health in Eastern Europe

The transition from totalitarian to democratic societies has had both posit ive and negative effects on children's mental health. Economic difficulties brought a decline in services that formerly protected children and familie s in certain aspects. Positive changes include a movement toward democratic process within the family, depoliticization of mental illness, passage of laws ensuring basic children's rights, increased awareness about child abus e, and proliferation of mental health and support centers.