FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2026 | International Women's Day

CITIZENS HEALTH INITIATIVE

Citizens Health Initiative Launches Disburden — A Confidential Platform to Prevent Gender-Based Violence Before It Begins

Launched on International Women's Day, Disburden empowers individuals to recognize early warning signs of unhealthy relationships — before harm escalates.

Connecticut — On International Women's Day 2026, Citizens Health Initiative (CHI) is proud to announce the official launch of Disburden, a confidential, prevention-focused digital platform designed to help individuals recognize the early signs of unhealthy or potentially violent relationships — long before harm escalates.

The launch of Disburden on this historic day is intentional. International Women's Day is not only a celebration of progress, it is a call to action. For Citizens Health Initiative, that call demands we invest in tools that reach people where prevention is possible: at the very beginning.

Why This Matters

Gender-based violence rarely appears without warning. It escalates quietly, gradually, and often invisibly to those experiencing it. Many individuals do not seek help early, not because they are unaware something is wrong, but because fear, social stigma, and a lack of safe, accessible information create barriers that feel insurmountable.

The consequences are devastating and well-documented. Yet the systems we have built have largely remained reactive, intervening only after harm has already been done. Citizens Health Initiative believes we can and must do better.

"Disburden is built on a simple but powerful premise: that the best time to stop violence is before it starts. We are giving people the knowledge, language, and safe space to trust what they are experiencing — and to act early."

— May Ubeku, Executive Director, Citizens Health Initiative

A Public Health Approach to Prevention

Citizens Health Initiative treats gender-based violence as what it is: a preventable public health issue. Not solely a matter for law enforcement or crisis services, but a condition with identifiable risk factors, recognizable patterns, and meaningful points of early intervention.

Disburden applies this framework directly. The platform provides users with research-backed information on relationship warning signs, emotional and behavioral patterns associated with coercive control, and guidance on how to seek support, all within a secure, judgment-free environment that prioritizes user privacy above all else.

About Disburden

Disburden is designed for anyone who senses something may be wrong in their relationship, but may not yet have the words or certainty to name it. The platform offers:

◆ Confidential, self-guided assessments to help users reflect on their relationship experiences without fear of exposure.

◆ Educational resources on the spectrum of relationship harm — from early warning signs to escalating risk factors.

◆ Safe pathways to professional support, including community resources, helplines, and counseling referrals.

◆ A trauma-informed user experience designed to reduce shame and center the dignity of every individual who uses it.

Critically, Disburden requires no account creation, leaves no traceable footprint, and is accessible at no cost.

This International Women's Day, Citizens Health Initiative invites individuals, healthcare providers, advocates, and partner organizations to learn more about Disburden and join us in making prevention the first line of response.

About Citizens Health Initiative

Citizens Health Initiative is a public health organization committed to preventing harm at the population level through education, early intervention, and evidence-based tools. CHI believes that every person deserves access to the information they need to protect their health, safety, and wellbeing — without barriers.

MEDIA CONTACT

Communications Office

Citizens Health Initiative

press@citihealth.org

www.citihealth.org/disburden