IT'S not just student's academic wellbeing the University of Bolton cares for — emotional health matters too.

The university has opened a new Life Lounge which brings together services to help students who need counselling to needing a bit of quiet reflection.

The lounge was officially opened on World Mental Health Day earlier this month.

Nationally there is a call for universities to do more to support who are moving away from home for the first time as figures suggest there rising numbers of students struggling to cope with life on campus and rises in demand for counselling.

The National Union of Students said that meeting new people, living on a budget, homesickness, keeping up with deadlines can be challenging.

And added that with social, financial and academic pressures on young people growing all the time, it’s easy to see why mental health issues, like depression and anxiety, are affecting so many.

A 2013 NUS survey found that one in five considered themselves to have a mental health problem, with many also reporting wellbeing issues, such as trouble sleeping, or a lack of motivation.

The new Life Lounge is designed to support students in being able to seek the help they need in a relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of university life.

The Student Services’ initiative brings together services such as counselling, CBT — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy — clinic, Student Liaison Officers, study skills area combined with external specialist providers that are offering support to students geared towards their emotional and mental health wellbeing.

Student Services Manager, Beverley Knights said: "The Life Lounge has just opened and we are already getting plenty of positive feedback from students.

"For our students these services are centred away from the hustle and bustle of university life and include waiting areas with an emphasis on a 'quiet room ambience' — something we wanted to create for our students for a while now.

"We’re really pleased with the results and the feedback."

She added: "We’d like to thank our colleagues in the School of Education and Psychology for establishing the CBT clinic and the School of Health and Human Sciences for their support in helping us provide services such as the nurse advisory clinic. We are looking at developing our services to include sessions such as mindfulness, group therapy and workshops."

During World Mental Health Day, students enjoyed healthy lifestyle taster sessions, including yoga, massage and other initiatives aimed at promoting wellbeing.