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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. 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.
  2. 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; :. doi: 10.1002/cbm.2331. PubMed PMID:38264949 .
  3. 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; :. doi: 10.1002/hpm.3763. PubMed PMID:38192113 .
  4. Turner, NE, Sinclair, L, Matheson, FI. Brief Report: The Rise of Online Betting in Ontario. J Gambl Stud. 2023; :. doi: 10.1007/s10899-023-10268-1. PubMed PMID:38087132 .
  5. 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.
  6. 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):. doi: 10.1108/IJPH-01-2023-0004. PubMed PMID:37658480 .
  7. Chum, A, Kim, C, Nielsen, A, Dusing, GJ, O'Campo, P, Matheson, FI et al.. Disparities in Suicide-Related Behaviors Across Sexual Orientations by Gender: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Linked Health Administrative Data. Am J Psychiatry. 2023;180 (9):660-667. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220763. PubMed PMID:37282552 .
  8. Butsang, T, McLuhan, A, Keown, LA, Fung, K, Matheson, FI. Sex differences in pre-incarceration mental illness, substance use, injury and sexually transmitted infections and health service utilization: a longitudinal linkage study of people serving federal sentences in Ontario. Health Justice. 2023;11 (1):19. doi: 10.1186/s40352-023-00218-9. PubMed PMID:37004620 PubMed Central PMC10067244.
  9. Tan, SWY, Mashford-Pringle, A, Butsang, T, Scott, B, Tjong, GB, Flores, J et al.. "These Issues Aren't Separate": The Relationship Among Being Indigenous, Motherhood, and the Criminal Justice System. J Correct Health Care. 2023;29 (2):135-142. doi: 10.1089/jchc.21.09.0101. PubMed PMID:36930850 .
  10. McLuhan, A, Hahmann, T, Mejia-Lancheros, C, Hamilton-Wright, S, Tacchini, G, Matheson, FI et al.. Finding help and hope in a peer-led reentry service hub near a detention centre: A process evaluation. PLoS One. 2023;18 (2):e0281760. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281760. PubMed PMID:36800339 PubMed Central PMC9937468.
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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