Poor mental health, especially depression and anxiety, is the leading cause of long-term sickness absence and early exit from employment from the NHS. The stress caused by COVID-19 has exacerbated these issues. Led in the East Midlands by Prof Richard Morriss, this questionnaire and interview study aims to monitor and mitigate mental health issues, burnout, sickness absence and intention to leave the NHS workforce, and its relationship to working conditions, personal circumstances and measures taken by employers. This national study called NHS CHECK (Chief Investigator Prof Sir Simon Wessely) following 120,000 NHS staff in acute and mental health trusts over 18 months funded through the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East Midlands and National Collaboration and other NIHR funding. The study will also compare the mental health of NHS staff of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic origin, who experience a greater risk of death and possibly greater anxiety from COVID-19 with the rest of NHS staff.