Queensland speaker of the house Curtis Pitt says he will take time off to address his mental health after he missed time during the state parliament’s historic sitting in his home town of Cairns this week due to illness.

“A number of issues have converged at this point in my life. I’m not doing as well emotionally as I’ve made out to anyone,” he said in a statement.

“A lengthy divorce after more than two decades of marriage, an underlying medical condition in ulcerative colitis, suffering from depression, and requiring ongoing medication for my back — for which I am scheduled to have surgery soon.

“My elderly parents both have serious health issues and my work over five terms as an MP, a regional Minister, and as Speaker have taken a toll.”

The 46-year-old member for Mulgrave, in the state’s Far North, said his time off would begin on Tuesday after he finalised some things with his office.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to take a period of time off for my mental health to get well and to do my job to the best of my abilities,” he said.

“I owe that to my colleagues, the parliament and to my electorate.”