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Does it refer to sadness and melancholia today?

Much of clinical and counselling psychology is devoted to managing negative affectivity and alleviating sadness. Yet, it seems that some degree of sadness and melancholia has been far more accepted in previous historical ages than is the case today. From the classic philosophers through Shakespeare to the works of Chekhov, Ibsen, and the great novels of the 19th century, exploring the landscape of sadness, longing, and melacholia has long been considered ennobling. It is only in the last few decades that a veritable industry promoting the cult of positivity has managed to eliminate this earlier and more balanced view of human affectivity.

The Social Psychology of Living Well

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  • It refers to, "the degree of sadness and melancholia that is accepted today".
    – gotube ♦
    Commented Oct 7, 2021 at 5:28

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it seems that some degree of sadness and melancholia has been far more accepted in previous historical ages than is the case today.

The bold part is a clause that could be re-written as

than it is accepted today (in our times).

Basically, is the case replaces the referent provided in the previous clause: some degree of sadness and melancholia is accepted. To be the case is a phrase:

If you say that something is the case, you mean that it is true or correct.

  • Consumers had hoped the higher prices would mean more goods in stores. But that was not the case. (Collins)
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    Good answer. It is OED sense 6a of the noun "case" - *An instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring; a particular circumstance or state of affairs.
    – WS2
    Commented Nov 20, 2022 at 16:36
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'The case today' refers to today's degree of acceptance of sadness and melancholia.

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