Dude, his life is already safe because he has a great friend in you.

Anyways, first of all...DON'T TAKE HIM OUT TO DRINK. My God...I hate it when a lot of people resort to alcohol to release their problems (happened to me once...ain't happening again). Since he's in college right now, why don't you pay him a visit or vice versa, and you guys just hang out (i.e. park, beach, internet cafe, etc.). Eventually, you guys will sit down and he'll probably end up telling his problems to you (one of my best friends does that to me). Be patient about this...because you don't want to increase his depression level.