It varies, university to university, major to major and class to class. I know mass communication majors at my school that aren't stressed over finals and I know engineering majors that busted their ass year round and STILL had a hard time with finals to the point of a mental breakdown. There's so many different variables you have to take into account. Not everybody deals with stress the same, also. I personally had my **** together all semester and studied accordingly and still had a stressful and rough time with finals. If people are committing suicide over finals, then yes, it is that crucial.