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Flora Matheson

PhD

Scientist

Email: Flora.Matheson@unityhealth.to
Tel: 416-864-6060 ext. 77482

Research Programs

Labs

Dr. Flora Matheson Lab ❯

Biography

Dr. Flora Matheson is a medical sociologist and mental health and addictions specialist. Using a gender lens, she investigates the social determinants of problem gambling and criminal justice involvement.

Dr. Matheson’s work investigating the links between health and criminalization/the justice system have highlighted important risk factors for imprisonment. For example, her research found that young adults (18-28) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at increased risk of incarceration and that people experiencing TBI are more likely to incur disciplinary charges.

Dr. Matheson was one of the first researchers in Canada to investigate and measure the strong relationship between problem gambling and homelessness. She and Good Shepherd Ministries co-developed and launched the first gambling-addiction program for people who are homeless.

Recent Publications

  1. Kitchen, SA, McCormack, D, Werb, D, Caudarella, A, Martins, D, Matheson, FI et al.. Trends and outcomes of serious complications associated with non-fatal opioid overdoses in Ontario, Canada. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021;225 :108830. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108830. PubMed PMID:34182376 .
  2. Jindani, F, Cook, S, Shi, J, McAvoy, S, Myers, C, Matheson, FI et al.. Exploring the Gaps in Programming for Men and Women with a Gambling Disorder in the Correctional System in Canada. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2021; :306624X211013743. doi: 10.1177/0306624X211013743. PubMed PMID:34009039 .
  3. Perri, M, Metheny, N, Matheson, FI, Potvin, K, O'Campo, P. Finding opportunity in the COVID-19 crisis: prioritizing gender in the design of social protection policies. Health Promot Int. 2021; :. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daab045. PubMed PMID:33993289 PubMed Central PMC8194510.
  4. Macleod, ER, Tajbakhsh, I, Hamilton-Wright, S, Laliberte, N, Wiese, JL, Matheson, FI et al.. "They're not doing enough.": women's experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2021;16 (1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13011-021-00360-3. PubMed PMID:33743756 PubMed Central PMC7980746.
  5. Mejia-Lancheros, C, Lachaud, J, Stergiopoulos, V, Matheson, FI, Nisenbaum, R, O'Campo, P et al.. Effect of Housing First on violence-related traumatic brain injury in adults with experiences of homelessness and mental illness: findings from the At Home/Chez Soi randomised trial, Toronto site. BMJ Open. 2020;10 (12):e038443. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038443. PubMed PMID:33277277 PubMed Central PMC7722391.
  6. Whittingham, L, Durbin, A, Lin, E, Matheson, FI, Volpe, T, Dastoori, P et al.. The prevalence and health status of people with developmental disabilities in provincial prisons in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective cohort study. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2020;33 (6):1368-1379. doi: 10.1111/jar.12757. PubMed PMID:32529696 .
  7. Matheson, FI, McIsaac, KE, Fung, K, Stewart, LA, Wilton, G, Keown, LA et al.. Association between traumatic brain injury and prison charges: a population-based cohort study. Brain Inj. 2020;34 (6):757-763. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1753114. PubMed PMID:32324431 .
  8. Paul, S, Nakhost, A, Stergiopoulos, V, Matheson, FI, Simpson, AIF, Guimond, T et al.. Perceptions of key stakeholders on procedural justice in the Consent And Capacity Board of Ontario's hearings. Int J Law Psychiatry. ;68 :101515. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.101515. PubMed PMID:32033692 .
  9. Wiseman-Hakes, C, Ryu, H, Lightfoot, D, Kukreja, G, Colantonio, A, Matheson, FI et al.. Examining the Efficacy of Communication Partner Training for Improving Communication Interactions and Outcomes for Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2020;2 (1):100036. doi: 10.1016/j.arrct.2019.100036. PubMed PMID:33543065 PubMed Central PMC7853340.
  10. Guilcher, SJT, Cadel, L, Everall, AC, Wiese, JL, Hamilton-Wright, S, Salmon, CC et al.. Factors related to screening for problem gambling among healthcare and social service providers in Ontario, Canada: A concept mapping study. Health Soc Care Community. 2020;28 (3):791-802. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12909. PubMed PMID:31833129 .
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Adjunct Scientist, Mental Health and Addictions Program, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
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