Even in normal times, mental illness affects a large number of the U.S. population. During a pandemic, that number is likely to increase.

So, it was good to hear an announcement this week that a new state online tool — the Mental Health Resources Guide — is available to help people locate assistance for mental health issues during COVID-19.

The guide points those in need to services that focus on accessing treatment, suicide prevention, unique challenges for minority or LGBTQ populations, how to get services without insurance and coping with everything from trauma to substance abuse disorder.

Brandon Savochka, director of Butler County Human Services, said the pandemic’s damage extends beyond the virus itself — and many people have suffered from mental health issues due to its isolating nature.

“Our regular social connections we’ve established throughout our lives have been disconnected,” he said. According to a 2017 study by the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five adults — about 46.6 million people — in the United States have some form of mental illness.

Pandemics can exacerbate mental health issues for people who already suffer from them, and create issues for those previously unaffected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that stress during a pandemic can cause numerous problems, including worry about one’s own health and the health of loved ones, concern about financial situations or jobs, changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty concentrating, worsening of chronic health issues and increased use of tobacco, alcohol or other substances.

For the past five months, COVID-19 has likely led to people feeling isolated and disoriented from having to change their routines and way of life.

People have seen friends or loved ones less, social interaction has been limited, businesses have closed and restaurants have operated at lesser capacity, annual events have been canceled and a large percent of human interaction has been through computer screens.

It’s no surprise that a lot of people haven’t had an easy time adapting to this new way of life.

We hope the state’s Mental Health Resources Guide points people in the direction of the help they need. We also urge county residents in need of services to reach out to Butler’s Center for Community Resources, which can perform evaluations, give recommendations and connect those whose insurance doesn’t cover mental health services with assistance.

There’s no need to suffer in silence.