“The trouble with market research is people don’t think what they feel, they don’t say what they think, and they don’t do what they say.” (David Ogilvy)
Unlike bad things, which tend to happen suddenly, good things tend to be built gradually, so are rarely newsworthy on any particular day. Thus, bad things dominate the news, even as overall the world gets better (albeit too slowly for us to notice).
Want to help someone when they’re anxious? Ask them if they want empathy or they want a solution. Don't offer advice for how to solve a problem to someone who in that moment just wants a pat on the back.