Paul Martin M.A.P.S, Psychologist
Media Statement – Tuesday January 24th 2012
A Brisbane psychologist who specialises in counselling gay and lesbian people has welcomed a Senate inquiry into marriage equality.
Paul Martin said,
“The inquiry will provide an opportunity to put forward the evidence strongly linking marriage equality and better mental health.”
“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.”
Mr 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 and are more than twice as likely to experience psychological disorders.
He said one of the easiest and most effective way to improve the mental health of a significant proportion of Australians is for the government to ensure legal equality for same-sex couples and their families.