CHICAGO (AP) — Students at DePaul University in Chicago are creating video games that raise awareness for mental illnesses and other afflictions.

The Chicago Tribune reports that students at Deep Games Laboratory in DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media are working on projects that address bullying, help those with anxiety overcome their fears and teach sickle cell anemia patients ways to stay healthy.

Associate professor Doris Rusch says the games would ideally be used alongside counseling from a mental health professional, but provide an option that may be less daunting and more accessible.

Psychiatrist Dr. Nina Vasan of Stanford University says no studies have yet proven that video games are effective treatment on their own, but they can present a new method to reach patients who have mental health afflictions.