Even if things are happier now, many are worried, often with good reason,about the future. Every day thoughts and images are blasted through the media that can cause even more worry and anxiety, often unrealistic and unnecessary. I live around generally well off working and middle class people, and many live with blown up expectation of calamity that becomes worse when it finally occurs to someone in their orbit. This can be lessened with less access to media and more face to face social interaction, but people are stuck in their safe lonely worry bubbles and sometimes getting out is a huge step.
There are still places, even in the US where the level of suffering and poverty just seems unfair. Los Angeles has gotten much better, but it still holds a bottomless pit of pain and suffering at it's core. Go from Berverly Hills and West LA to South Central and Skid Row and the difference will make you ill.
Great post, thank you for starting such a thoughtful discussion.