This society itself is mentally ill. These students are fine.
i like this idea, it makes sense of an issue that has been troubling me
based on the idea of modern society being narcissistic and selfish, sometimes i wonder whether humans are more animal then you realise, and that that is in fact the cause of the inherent selfishness so common in modern society; people driving porches whilst others lack food and water
but perhaps this is caused by the people in modern society being unhappy inside without spiritual fulfillment, hence being tricked into thinking "if i eat this, if i buy this, etc. i will become happy"
alternatively on a more specific level, individuals who are narcissistic could be making up for a lack of care and love and having their basic needs supplied by others [i started writing this argument before reading Einzige's post but this provides a good example], and so are making up for it by having to inflate their sense of self, similar to children having to be somewhat egocentric to have their basic needs fulfilled and to survive
alternatively, this world is intentionally somewhat backwards, as are the people in it, chocabloc with injustices problems difficulties and suffering, and i have yet to find spiritual understanding of why this is