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Plays to de-stress

Video games can be used for more than just entertainment; one Bellevue, Washington, startup thinks they can help improve mental health. Litesprite develops games to help people dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. Its first game, Sinasprite, encourages players to journey with Socks, a fox who wants to be a Zen master. Players complete activities such as journaling and meditation to unlock different rooms and scenery within the game.

"Through the experiences, players learn more about themselves," says CEO and founder Swatee Surve.

Patients play, and clinics get information about which coping mechanisms seem to work best for each person. Health professionals can then decide on treatment options.