I think it's more to do with people admitting to struggling and Drs actually listening. Think of laudanum being given to high society women who suffered with their 'nerves' or all those people in he 50s addicted to the 'little yellow pill'. It's always been there, just hidden
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.