Brisbane psychologist and prominent gay and lesbian counselling specialist Paul Martin (pictured) has welcomed the federal Government’s Senate inquiry into marriage equality, announced last week.

“The inquiry will provide an opportunity to put forward the evidence strongly linking marriage equality and better mental health,” Martin said.

“This evidence includes recent public statements by the American Psychological Association and the Australian Psychological Society that same-sex couples and their children experience higher levels of psychological distress when the couples concerned are denied the right to marry.

“The research data also demonstrates that when society allows same-sex couples to marry, it has a positive impact on the mental health of gay and lesbian people and their families.”

Martin said that due to homophobia, gays and lesbians experience alarming levels of mental health problems, including being four times more likely to commit suicide.