On Wednesday, we learned about The Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh recently announcing the U.S. launch of the Bright Sky app, a free, digital resource for anyone concerned about or experiencing domestic violence.

The app helps users identify the types and signs of domestic violence, assess the safety of their relationship, and get access to information about different forms of abuse as well as how to help someone who might be affected.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually in the U.S. One in four women and one in seven men age 18 or older in the country have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner.

Domestic violence is something that very few understand unless they’ve experienced it themselves. Resources like the Bright Sky app could make a huge difference in the lives of those affected by it.

“One of the reasons we wanted to launch this app is because oftentimes survivors are not believed,” said Nicole Molinaro, president and CEO of the center. “The very nature of domestic violence is the batterer of domestic violence behaves one way in public and one way in private.”

The National Domestic Violence Hotline website says that many abusive people appear like ideal partners in the early stages of a relationship, and warning signs of abuse don’t always appear overnight and may emerge and intensify as the relationship grows.

We never know what battle someone is fighting beneath the surface. Survivors of domestic violence deserve support like the app, which is equipped with the ability to dial 911 through its interface in case a victim is prevented from dialing directly.

Knowing that there’s more than one exit route in a dangerous situation is essential.

We hope that those who need it can benefit from the Bright Sky app, and commend those involved with the launch in their efforts to help those who might not be able to escape a dangerous situation.

—CM