[downerending]

They are diseases of despair, and that is key. (have an upvote)

But casting this as primarily an issue of financial inequality seems misleading. I wouldn't feel one whit less awful if everyone in the country was poorer than me.

It's absolute want that matters. If you can't afford medical care for your kid, it doesn't matter whether or not anyone or everyone else can--you're still going to be devastated.