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).