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Flora Matheson

PhD

Scientist

Email: Flora.Matheson@unityhealth.to

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. Dunn, JR, Smith, KLW, Smith, P, Moineddin, R, Matheson, FI, Hwang, SW et al.. Does receipt of social housing impact mental health? Results of a quasi-experimental study in the Greater Toronto Area. Soc Sci Med. 2024;362 :117363. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117363. PubMed PMID:39454326 .
  2. Butsang, TC, Zafar, S, Dastoori, P, McLuhan, A, Rice, EJ, Ziegler, C et al.. COVID-related disruptions and adaptations to prison-based mental health and substance use services: a narrative review. Int J Prison Health (2024). 2024;20 (1):1-15. doi: 10.1108/IJOPH-02-2023-0013. PubMed PMID:38984553 .
  3. Russell, C, George, TP, Chopra, N, Le Foll, B, Matheson, FI, Rehm, J et al.. Feasibility and effectiveness of extended-release buprenorphine (XR-BUP) among correctional populations: a systematic review. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2024; :1-20. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2360984. PubMed PMID:38940929 .
  4. Matheson, FI, McLuhan, A, Riccardi, JS, Kirby, A, McMillan, TM. Implementing Interventions for Women and Youth with Traumatic Brain Injury at Transition from Custodial Settings: A Call to Action. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2024;20 :1169-1177. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S409794. PubMed PMID:38831936 PubMed Central PMC11144573.
  5. Scott, OFT, Bubna, M, Boyko, E, Hunt, C, Kristman, VL, Gargaro, J et al.. Author Correction: Characterizing the profiles of patients with acute concussion versus prolonged post-concussion symptoms in Ontario. Sci Rep. 2024;14 (1):4763. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-55261-9. PubMed PMID:38413649 PubMed Central PMC10899232.
  6. Lunsky, Y, Matheson, FI, Kouyoumdjian, F, Whittingham, L, Lin, E, Durbin, A et al.. Intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario's criminal justice and forensic mental health systems: Using data to tell the story. Crim Behav Ment Health. 2024;34 (2):197-207. doi: 10.1002/cbm.2331. PubMed PMID:38264949 .
  7. Hao, S, McLuhan, A, Moloney, G, Kaur, N, Moineddin, R, Turner, NE et al.. Operational status of mental health, substance use, and problem gambling services: A system-level snapshot two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2024;39 (4):980-992. doi: 10.1002/hpm.3763. PubMed PMID:38192113 .
  8. Turner, NE, Sinclair, L, Matheson, FI. Brief Report: The Rise of Online Betting in Ontario. J Gambl Stud. 2024;40 (2):705-715. doi: 10.1007/s10899-023-10268-1. PubMed PMID:38087132 PubMed Central PMC11272709.
  9. Scott, OFT, Bubna, M, Boyko, E, Hunt, C, Kristman, VL, Gargaro, J et al.. Characterizing the profiles of patients with acute concussion versus prolonged post-concussion symptoms in Ontario. Sci Rep. 2023;13 (1):17955. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44095-6. PubMed PMID:37863954 PubMed Central PMC10589269.
  10. Matheson, FI, McLuhan, A, Croxford, R, Hahmann, T, Ferguson, M, Mejia-Lancheros, C et al.. Health status and health-care utilization among men recently released from a superjail: a matched prospective cohort study. Int J Prison Health. 2023;ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print):709-723. doi: 10.1108/IJPH-01-2023-0004. PubMed PMID:37658480 .
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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
  • Member, iBEST (Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology), Healthcare and Analytics Research Theme, Toronto, Canada
  • Associate Professor, Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada