Nature abhors a vacuum, and humans abhor problems without definitive solutions. I don't think there has ever been a moment in human history where a civilization, when confronted with a great societal ill, has sincerely admitted that they have no idea how to solve it. Before science, natural disasters were the punishment inflicted by displeased gods on humanity, and through piousness or sacrifice they could be averted, or through divination predicted. Incurable diseases, especially psychiatric, were explained karmically or by folk wisdom.

But while we might have science today, we still have disasters and diseases. Instead of shamans and religious leaders, now politicians and activists promise easy solutions that are within arm's grasp, "if only the people currently in charge weren't so corrupt and incompetent." But change is incremental at best, and where it concerns depression specifically, it appears only to be getting worse.