A drop-in centre for students feeling stressed out, depressed or under pressure has been launched in Oxford.

Headspace, at The Mill, at 46 Cowley Road, will be open every Tuesday between 7pm and 9.30pm for students to come in, talk to people, get advice and relax.

Alda Porter, from Oxfordshire Mind, has helped organise the new drop-in which will start next week.

She said: "There are lots of people coming to university who are finding it exciting, but also there are times when people can be under a huge amount of pressure and there is a lot of expectation.

"Part of Oxfordshire Mind's work is accessing groups of people who don't get support and as Oxford has such a big student population, we wanted to do something particularly for them."

At The Mill, facilities include an art gallery, a music room, an art studio and internet access.

Miss Porter said as well as simple drop-in services, it was planned to introduce workshops ranging from art to managing exam stress.

Kate Wilkinson, 27, from Jericho, has been visiting to The Mill for the past two years. She became ill while studying at Oxford University and has since been diagnosed with an eating disorder and a bipolar condition.

She said: "I managed to finish my degree, but didn't hear about Mind until after finishing and I think it would have been helpful.

"The Mill is a safe place to go when I'm feeling ill, but also when I am feeling OK.

"It's also a good place for me to eat because the staff know about my issues and if I'm having a difficult day they will sit with me and support me through it."

Miss Wilkinson has worked with staff at The Mill to help them set up the new drop-in centre based on the kind of support she felt would have helped her when she was a student and struggling.

She said: "I didn't realise I had a mental illness.

"I just thought I was stressed with my work and overtired.

"II would not have thought to have gone to ask for help.

Matthew Hayes, 21, is vice president of student welfare at Oxford Brookes University Student Union.

He said: "I think it is really helpful for students to have a space where they can chill out and relax.

"If people don't want to go somewhere like counselling, which is very official and more than some people need, then having somewhere to offer a bit of space just to think, and to talk to someone, outside of the university, is really useful."