Help sometimes can be just a click away.

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

Nicole Molinaro, president and CEO of the center, explained the uses of the app and how it could benefit anyone going through these situations.

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.

One feature Molinaro is excited about is the ability to dial 911 through the app because sometimes the situation a victim might be in prevents dialing directly.

“Of course you could just call 911 normally, but if you are in the app and there is an immediate danger that happens while you are using the app, you can call 911,” Molinaro said.

The app launched March 9 and as of early April has had almost 1,300 downloads in the U.S.

“We have been really thrilled so far,” Molinaro said. “We have gotten very positive reactions from people who have used the app. There have been a lot of downloads and website visits. We have gotten great feedback from survivors of domestic violence.”

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.

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

Domestic violence is often counterintuitive, Molinaro said. She said that sometimes the easy answer of just leaving an abusive partner isn’t the best way to go about it.

“Unfortunately, leaving is the most dangerous thing,” Molinaro said. “Actually 73% of all women who are killed by their partner, (it) happens after they try to leave.”

“We talk on the app about red flags in relationships and provide helpful information and videos as well,” Molinaro said. “We often see red flags around jealousy. People often mistake jealousy for love, but it really is an attempt to control. When they look on the app, they can identify some things that are happening in their own relationship.”

Bright Sky was launched in the U.S. with the support of NO MORE, DomesticShelters.org and Aspirant. It’s available for download for both iOS and Android users.

“We have partnered with DomesticShelters.org to provide the direct connection to a database of domestic violence programs across the country,” Molinaro said. “You can search the database by a specific area of where you are and find the different resources that are available there and connect to them directly.”

The Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh serves more 7,700 adult and child survivors every year, Molinaro said, which is done through comprehensive services that provide help and hope to anybody experiencing domestic violence

“We are a sister program of VOICe that serves Butler,” Molinaro said. “We serve Allegheny County; VOICe serves Butler.”

Dr. Tracy Veri, executive director at VOICe, said the Victim Outreach Intervention Center uses an app similar to Bright Sky, but there was very little information she was able to give about it because its design is to be discrete so victims can feel safe from their abusers.

“I think the safest thing to say is that we use something similar, but I don’t want someone to Google it and find out about it,” Veri said. “It started in November; we are still working out the kinks and the bugs. The counseling staff are the ones that use it the most at this point.”

VOICe and the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh operate under the same purview of agencies that fund them such as the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

“We are all sister agencies per se,” Veri said. “We certainly have taken in people from Allegheny County if their shelter is full, or if someone at our facility doesn’t feel safe in the area, we will ask if someone else can take them in.”

Veri said their shelter is the core of VOICe’s services which is offered 24/7 and is open to men, women and children.

“We have wonderful counselors here,” Veri said. “I don’t think people realize we have attorneys available. We offer free and confidential legal services to those who might need PFAs and custody suits.”

VOICe also has a 24/7 hotline which is free to use. It can be reached at 1-800-400-8551.