I saw what happened at Caltech during the rash of suicides in 2009/2010 and watched as a number of people I knew (including my now-ex girlfriend) tailspinned in

I saw what happened at Caltech during the rash of suicides in 2009/2010 and watched as a number of people I knew (including my now-ex girlfriend) tailspinned into very destructive behavior and IMO house culture exasperated the problems. Depression led to some drawing themselves more into the destructive tendencies of certain houses which put them in over their heads and unable to emotionally sustain themselves. House culture and the alcohol/drugs that comes along with some of them became their primary escape from the academic pressure of Caltech and the social pressures that came with being in the middle of a suicide cluster. Unfortunately, that doesn't help with depression, just pushes it aside temporarily. Truly a painful situation for those involved.