*2.1. Study Design and Sample*

This was a cross-sectional observational study. Data were collected online using Google Forms with the links to the form sent by email, WhatsApp, or social networks. Brazilian individuals over 18 years of age were able to participate. The minimum sample size was estimated using α = 5%, *p* = 5% (prevalence of mortality from COVID-19), ε = 10%, and a loss rate of 25%. Thus, the minimum sample size was estimated at 9734. The sample was stratified by states to ensure a representation of all Brazilian States and the Federal District.

Information was collected on sex, age, state, monthly family income (1: below 240.00 USD; 2: between 240.00 USD and 383.00 USD; 3: between 384.00 USD and 1,652.00 USD; 4: between 1653.00 USD and 2153.00 USD; 5: above 2154.00 USD; 1 USD = 5.23 BRL; Available from: www.bcb.gov.br; Accessed 21 July 2020), number of people residing with the participant, time (minutes) spent per day watching or reading the news related to the pandemic, and education level (1: complete elementary I school, 2: complete elementary II school, 3: complete high school, 4: complete higher education and 5: complete graduate school). Further information was obtained on the mental health and general health problems diagnosed before the pandemic, mental health status during the pandemic, knowing someone who tested positive for COVID-19, considering COVID-19 as dangerous or not, sense of safe, and the opinion if the news about this viral pandemic is confusion. Information regarding the absence or presence of mental health problems was obtained by asking the participant if he had already received a medical diagnosis related to mental health disorders at some point before the pandemic. Regarding general health, the information was obtained in the same way, but, asking about medical diagnosis related to health in general. In addition, the participants were asked if they noticed any changes in their mental health status after the pandemic began, felt safe or unsafe in view of the pandemic scenario, believed the coronavirus was dangerous or not and if they considered the news transmitted about the pandemic confusing or adequate/clarifying.

Respondents also completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) [30,31] and the Impact of Event Scale-revised (IES-R) [32]. The time frame for psychological impact was considered the period since the beginning of the pandemic in Brazil (11 March 2020).
