Variable selection/transformations
The two main outcome variables were: perceived need for contacting mental health services (“did you feel the need to contact mental health services during the pandemic?” ) and actual use of (any) mental health services (“did you use any mental health services during the pandemic?” ). Several independent variables were chosen as predictors of use and need for contacting services. Respondents were asked to rate symptom severity during the pandemic as “no change, got better, got worse, fluctuating”; this variable was recoded as 1=got worse, 0=all others (“worsening of symptoms” variable). A seven-point assessment of Patient’s Global Impression (PGI) was asked of the respondent (1=no symptoms of illness, 7=worst days of my illness) and the response coded; the Clinician’s Global Impression (CGI) was coded by the interviewer (psychiatry resident) based on their impression during the interview (1=no illness, 7= most severe illness).