Bessie, a three-year-old Jack Russell, is joining the fight to help students with their mental health.

As the new academic year gets under way, with all the pressures that entails for students, Newcastle University is offering them the chance to borrow Bessie and take her for a walk around local parks.

Other universities offer therapy dogs for stressed students, and some have dog-walking schemes, but Newcastle University believes theirs is the only one that lets people take a dogs out for an unsupervised stroll.

Bessie belongs to Sally Ingram, the university's director of Student Health and Wellbeing, who said: "Research has shown that time spent with animals can alleviate worry, provide comfort and help people deal with feelings of isolation and loneliness - all issues that students can sometimes struggle with.

"Combining this with fresh air and physical exercise is a good recipe for positive physical and mental wellbeing."

Dog Photographer of the Year award Show all 29 1 /29 Dog Photographer of the Year award Dog Photographer of the Year award overall-winner-and-1st-oldies-denise-czichocki-c.jpg 1st Place Oldies Overall Winner *** Local Caption *** My mobile number is 0041 784032006 28/5 confirmed her win 29/5 emailed info Denise Czichocki Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-portrait-anastasia-vetkovskaya-c.jpg 1st Place Portrait *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Anastasia Vetkovskaya Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-dogs-at-play-monica-van-der-maden-c.jpg 1st Place Dogs at Play *** Local Caption *** 24/5 confirmed win 29/5 emailed info Monica van der Maden Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-portrait-sheena-staples-c.jpg 3rd Place Portrait *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Sheena Staples Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-rescue-dogs-anne-geier-c.jpg 1st Place Rescue Dogs *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed to question phone number 29/5 emailed info with questions Anne Geier Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-young-pup-photographer-eilidh-shannon-c.jpg 2nd Place Young Pup Photographer *** Local Caption *** 29/5 7 years old confirmed win with father Eilidh Shannon Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-dogs-at-work-dorine-scherpel-c.jpg 1st Place Dogs at Work *** Local Caption *** 28/5 need new number emailed 29/5 confirmed win and emailed info Dorine Scherpel Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-i-love-dogs-because-luca-gombos-c.jpg 2nd place I Love Dogs Because *** Local Caption *** 28/5 need new number, emailed 29/5 emailed info Luca Gombos Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-puppies-monica-van-der-maden-c.jpg 1st Place Puppies *** Local Caption *** 24/5 confirmed win 29/5 emailed info Monica van der Maden Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-portrait-ria-putzker-c.jpg 2nd Place Portrait *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Ria Putzker Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-mans-best-friend-alexandra-novitskaya-c.jpg 2nd Place Man's Best Friend *** Local Caption *** 28/5 no english 29/5 emailed info Alexandra Novitskaya Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-young-pup-photographer-sabine-wolpert-c.jpg 1st Place Young Pup Photographer *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Sabine Wolpert Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-rescue-dogs-tiahang-zhang-c.jpg 2nd Place Rescue Dogs *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed about phone number 29/5 emailed info with questions 10/6 confirmed win, moved back to China Tiahang Zhang Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-oldies-cat-race-c.jpg 2nd Place Oldies *** Local Caption *** 28/5 confirmed win 29/5 emailed info Cat Race Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-i-love-dogs-because-mariah-mobley-c.jpg 1st place I Love Dogs Because *** Local Caption *** 28/5 12 years of age, confirmed win with mom Kim Mariah Mobley Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-dogs-at-play-angela-blewaska-c.jpg 3rd Place Dogs at Play *** Local Caption *** 28/5 LM 29/5 emailed info Angela Blewaska Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-puppies-lotte-van-alderen-c.jpg 3rd Place Puppies *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Lotte van Alderen Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-mans-best-friend-cat-race-c.jpg 1st Place Man's Best Friend *** Local Caption *** 24/5 LM 28/5 confirmed win 29/5 emailed info Cat Race Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-dogs-at-work-nadezhda-ivanova-c.jpg Nadezhda Ivanova Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-puppies-carlos-aliperti-c.jpg 2nd Place Puppies *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Carlos Aliperti Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-oldies-susan-lang-c.jpg 3rd place Oldies *** Local Caption *** 24/5 spoke to Susan confirmed win 29/5 emailed info Susan Lang Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-rescue-dogs-luciana-veras-c.jpg 3rd Place Rescue Dogs *** Local Caption *** 29/5 emailed info Lu Veras Fotografia www.luverasfotografia.com.br Facebook /luverasfotografia Instagram @luverasfotografia (21) 99912-5711 Luciana Veras Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-mans-best-friend-michele-mccue-c.jpg 3rd Place Man's Best Friend *** Local Caption *** 28/5 LM 29/5 confirmed win and emailed info Michele Mccue Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-i-love-dogs-because-flora-wilson-c.jpg 3rd place I Love Dogs Because *** Local Caption *** 28/5 confirmed win, 16 yrs of age need updated file with camera details 29/5 emailed info Flora Wilson Dog Photographer of the Year award 3rd-assistance-dogs-melissa-bastin-c.jpg 3rd Place Assistance Dogs *** Local Caption *** 28/5 NA Melissa Bastin Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-dogs-at-work-katie-behan-c.jpg 2nd Place Dogs at Work *** Local Caption *** 28/5 confirmed win working ESS 29/5 emailed info Katie Behan Dog Photographer of the Year award 1st-assistance-dogs-angelika-elendt-c.jpg 1st Place Assistance Dogs *** Local Caption *** 24/5 spoke and confirmed win, english is not that good 29/5 emailed info info@elfmet.de Angelika Elendt Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-dogs-at-play-zoltan-kecskes-c.jpg 2nd Place Dogs at Play *** Local Caption *** 28/5 confirmed win 29/5 emailed Zoltan Kecskes Dog Photographer of the Year award 2nd-assistance-dogs-tracy-allard-c.jpg 2nd Place Assistance Dogs *** Local Caption *** 29/5 confirmed win, emailed info Tracy Allard

She said the dog-walking sessions have the lowest drop-out rate of any of the wellbeing services the department provides, as people do not want to let Bessie down by not turning up to walk her.

Sessions last an hour and students are encouraged to pair up to walk her, so they get to chat while they take Bessie out, and explore Newcastle's parks.

Friends Paige Coope, a philosophy student, and James Woods, who is taking a combined business, media and communication degree, have taken Bessie out.

Ms Coope said: "I would recommend this service to anyone who may be stressed with exams or for those who simply want the company of a great dog and have a spare hour."

Mr Woods said Bessie is very calm and cheerful and he looks forward to walking her.

He said: "She is sure to bring you some much-deserved downtime when you need it - especially if you miss your pets from home."

The university was advertising its scheme to coincide with World Mental Health Day.