[taurath]

It’s because whatever the next step is is far off in the distance, and very gatekept. People don’t have much opportunity, and frequently don’t have much in the way of community either.

Yes it is bleak. I still believe it’s still possible to have a lot of agency but meeting basic needs is so difficult. Scraping by is how many people will live their entire lives. I moderate some online mental health communities and it’s basically assumed that nobody can access mental healthcare except for hospitalizations (which then bankrupt you after). It’s a huge privilege to have access to even be helped with the tools to make your life better.