I think this seeming increase in mental health issues is not as big as it seems.

If we look back even 50 years ago, let alone 100 or 200 years ago, there was infinitely less knowledge about the way the mind works and about mental illness so most people never got diagnosed with anything or just got ostracized for being "mad".

Now, there's probably the opposite of that and in some cases people may get over diagnosed.

However, I also think that it's a sign of progress. It sounds stupid but the fact that we seem more emotionally/mentally "sensitive" compared to our ancestors, is probably a sign that we're on the right path towards a world that is far less violent, cruel and unjust.

I mean, 200 years ago people were, for ex, sort of used to suffering from pain without pain relief medication, get teeth pulled out with no anesthetic, losing family members from a cold or other things that are easily treated today. They were also sort of used to wars happening fairly often. Most people lived in pretty bad conditions and everything was harder to come by. The world was a much more violent, cruel place, even if we like to think the opposite.

So, their base line for "normal" and "ok" living was different from ours and we're "overly sensitive" and "weak" compared to them but that's a good thing.

Oh and now, in developed and super developed countries, because basic needs for survival and safety are met with relative ease, there's more "room" for those other needs, the needs of the mind, emotional intricacies and so on. With that there's also more room for damage.