<human>: Can you condense the text into a few key points?

I really enjoy spending time and talking with my girlfriend and when we're together, 95% of the time it's amazing. However, while I hate the words "needy" and "clingy", they apply to how she acts when we separate. Unfortunately, we are a highschool romance now one year into university. Our universities are 2 and a half hours away driving. A middle distance relationship I guess.

The practical result of the distance is that she expects contact every weekend, which is more than I prefer. Among other issues generally along the lines of me being one of the only things that gives her happiness, this difference in our expectations of time together has hurt our relationship a lot. 

The recent crisis: Recently the neediness intensified, and I am reaching a point where I no longer want to give in, unless we actually compromise. (I'm a bit of a coward who gives in too easily in general). Short family trips that don't include gf (because my family takes family-only trips) are now brutal to our relationship, making her cry and feel lonely the entire time. She revealed that for months she has been fighting depression.

Being a wuss, I had been thinking about breaking up because of how differently we want the relationship to go. Now, not only do I fear the guilt of breaking up with her and watching her life spiral downward, I am wondering how much our incompatibility was magnified by depression, that might be easier to defeat now that I know about it. At the same time, everyone I know says I wouldn't be able to help, and I should be looking out for my own interests, not hers. That makes sense but I'm not convinced. What should I consider? What are pros and cons I haven't thought of?
<bot>: 2 year relationship on very rocky ground due to clinginess on girlfriend's part, desire for independence on mine. Girlfriend's depression complicates matter. OP is confused and worried.