An Introduction to Stress and Health

Hymie Anisman received his PhD in 1972 (University of Waterloo), and has been a Professor at Carleton University, Ottawa, since that time, while also holding an adjunct appointment with the Institute of Mental Health Research (Royal Ottawa Hospital). Professor Anisman was a Senior Ontario Mental Health Research Fellow (1999-2006), is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and has held a Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience since 2001. The principle theme of his research has concerned the influence of stressors on neurochemical and neuroendocrine systems, and how these influence psychological (anxiety, depression) and physical (immune-related and neurodegenerative) disorders. His work has spanned animal models to assess stress-related pathology as well as studies in humans to assess stress, coping, and appraisal processes. In this regard, he has assessed the impact of chronic strain emanating from discrimination and stigmatization on well-being, depression, and PTSD among refugees from war-torn regions and among Aboriginal groups that suffered childhood traumatization, distress associated with abusive relationships and life transitions, as well as the transmission of trauma effects across generations. In addition to sitting on the editorial boards of several journals and on numerous grant panels, Professor Anisman has published more than 400 peer-reviewed journal papers and book chapters, as well as several review papers within neuroscience and psychology journals, and has edited two books, one dealing with stress processes and the second concerning psychoneuroimmunology. As well, he has published two books dealing with Stress and Health. One of these, published by SAGE, was meant as a textbook for university students, and the other was written for lay audiences. His research has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Ontario Mental Health Foundation (OMHF), the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and the Canada Research Chairs program (CRC).

Kimberly Matheson received her PhD in Psychology in 1988 from the University of Waterloo. She has been on faculty at Carleton University since 1990, is currently a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and is the joint Research Chair in Culture and Gender Mental Health at The Royal Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research and Carleton University.

Professor Matheson's research addresses cultural identity, collective and individual coping, resilience, and outcomes reflecting well-being, social justice, and social change. She has worked with community groups using multiple methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and biological analyses. Her research has been disseminated through academic journals and chapters, as well as to wider audiences through lay publications, videos and podcasts, public talks, and organizing workshops and conferences that engaged community members, youth, and front-line professionals. One of the main groups she has worked with for the past 15 years has been Indigenous Peoples. Professor Matheson is the project co-lead of the Indigenous Youth Futures Partnership that works with First Nations organizations and fly-in communities in Northwestern Ontario to co-develop and evaluate approaches to promoting community and youth resilience.

Professor Matheson has considerable experience with formal and informal cross-sectoral partnerships, developed while serving as Vice-President (Research & International) at Carleton University, as well as through founding the Canadian Health Adaptations, Innovation, and Mobilization (CHAIM) Centre. She has run numerous concurrent research programs relevant to Indigenous youth and communities, trained over 120 thesis students at different levels. Her work has been funded primarily by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).