Government plans to improve mental health at work will founder unless cuts to mental health services are reversed and workers are given better legal protection, unions have warned.

Unite, which represents mental health nurses and applied psychologists, welcomed the findings of the ‘Thriving at work’ report but stepped up calls for government to reverse cuts in mental health services and to start properly funding services.

Unite national officer for health Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said: “It is all very well the government welcoming the report but ministers need to invest in mental health services which have been cut to the bone since 2010.”

Dave Munday, lead professional officer for mental health at Unite, said: “Mental health staff are continually papering over the cracks and holding the service together but such unselfish commitment can only last so long, staff are at risk of burn out and making themselves ill.”

Dan Shears, safety director with the union GMB, said: “This report shows the urgent need for legislation and how the voluntary approach to work place mental health has utterly failed. The modern workplace puts incredible strain on employees.” He added: “Workers need support and reasonable adjustments for existing conditions, and preventative action to stop mental ill health developing. Getting this right would save the UK economy almost £100 billion per year.”

Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of the union Prospect, said the government could not ignore the impact of funding cuts and other “aggravating factors in the increase of mental health, such as increased workloads, long hours working and work-related stress.”