There have been many studies that have shown that while extreme cases of wealth disparity do cause unhappiness (I'm talking extreme poverty) most of the time it

There have been many studies that have shown that while extreme cases of wealth disparity do cause unhappiness (I'm talking extreme poverty) most of the time it is not the case. This is discussed in laymen and great length in the documentary "Happy. There is some indication that certain forms of non-chronic adrenaline producing stress (even life threatening ... ie sky diving) may help prevent depression (I'll find a reference shortly). I honestly believe that increased opioid usage is playing a huge part here and not wealth (at least through my own observations). In fact wealth and health care availability might actually be stimulating opioid usage (ie getting pills from doctors).