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Annie Harper, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Contact Information

Annie Harper, PhD

Mailing Address

  • Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health

    Erector Square Bldg #1, 319 Peck street

    New Haven, CT 06513

    United States

Recovery Finance Project
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Research Summary

I have research and practical experience in microfinance, urban poverty and mental health, both globally and in New Haven. My current research focuses on understanding the financial problems faced by low-income people with mental illness, and developing interventions as well as advocating for systemic and structural reforms to build financial stability.

Extensive Research Description

After a career as a researcher and practitioner working internationally on issues of finance and poverty, I completed my doctoral research in cultural anthropology at Yale University, dealing with urban poverty and inequality in South Asia. Living in New Haven piqued my interested in US concerns, and after graduating with my PhD, I began work researching mental illness, poverty and finances locally. I completed background research on the subject, funded by the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) Foundation and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DHMAS), then directed a two-year NIMH R34 grant funded mixed methods research study exploring the financial difficulties of people using public mental health services in New Haven, and testing recovery oriented support interventions that maximize autonomy and independent management of finances. During that time I developed a close collaboration with the City of New Haven and the broader community’s efforts to provide support to low income residents struggling with financial difficulties, including specific focus on the re-entry population. I use my skills and connections as a researcher to advise these efforts, support grant writing, and connect them with Yale researchers, including through collaboration with the Yale School of Management and with the Yale Law School's Community and Economic Development Clinic. I see engaging at a practical level as a vital component of my research work, and regularly 'gather data' as a member of various commissions and advisory boards, as a financial empowerment trainer, and a one-on-one financial counselor. I completed a Center for Retirement Research Sandell grant funded study conducting qualitative research into user experiences of the Social Security Administration’s representative payee system, exploring ways in which the financial services system can innovate and use technology to better serve people with mental illness. I am currently conducting research into the impact of debt on people with mental illness coming out of incarceration, funded through a Fahs-Beck fellowship.

Coauthors

Public Health Interests

Mental Health; Poverty and Economic Security; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice

Selected Publications

  • The Recovering Citizenship Learning Collaborative: a system-wide intervention to increase citizenship practices and outcomesFlanagan E, Tondora J, Harper A, Benedict P, Giard J, Bromage B, Williamson B, Acker P, Bragg C, Adams V, Rowe M. The Recovering Citizenship Learning Collaborative: a system-wide intervention to increase citizenship practices and outcomes. Journal Of Public Mental Health 2023, 22: 127-132. DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-12-2022-0125.
  • Exploring the Relationship between Debt and Health after Incarceration: a Survey StudyGinapp C, Aminawung J, Harper A, Puglisi L. Exploring the Relationship between Debt and Health after Incarceration: a Survey Study. Journal Of Urban Health 2023, 100: 181-189. PMID: 36650355, PMCID: PMC9918653, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00707-6.
  • The New Haven Debt Map: Community-Based Mixed Methods Research Targeting Local Debt Policy ReformHarper, A., & Bardelli, T. (2023). The New Haven Debt Map: Community-Based Mixed Methods Research Targeting Local Debt Policy Reform. doi:10.4135/9781529626698
  • A Medical Financial Partnership in a Pediatric Medical Home.Markowitz MA, Harper A, Rosenthal MS, Shabanova V, Cook E, Chen J, Rosenthal A, Shapiro ED, Horowitz S, Sude L. A Medical Financial Partnership in a Pediatric Medical Home. Journal Of Health Care For The Poor And Underserved 2022, 33: 136-148. PMID: 35153210, DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0011.
  • The New Haven Debt Map: community based mixed methods research targeting local debt policy reformHarper, A. and Bardelli, T. 2022. The New Haven Debt Map: community based mixed methods research targeting local debt policy reform. SAGE Research Methods Cases. in press
  • “Let Me Be Bill-free”: Consumer Debt in the Shadow of IncarcerationHarper A, Bardelli T, Barrenger S. “Let Me Be Bill-free”: Consumer Debt in the Shadow of Incarceration. Sociological Perspectives 2020, 63: 978-1001. DOI: 10.1177/0731121420968124.
  • Themes in Experiences of PTSD Symptoms and Relationships Among Male Veterans With Risky Sexual BehaviorDecker SE, Pavlo A, Harper A, Herring Y, Black AC. Themes in Experiences of PTSD Symptoms and Relationships Among Male Veterans With Risky Sexual Behavior. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2020, 12: 678-686. PMID: 32338947, PMCID: PMC8717835, DOI: 10.1037/tra0000569.
  • Debt, Incarceration, and Re-entry: a Scoping ReviewHarper A, Ginapp C, Bardelli T, Grimshaw A, Justen M, Mohamedali A, Thomas I, Puglisi L. Debt, Incarceration, and Re-entry: a Scoping Review. American Journal Of Criminal Justice 2020, 46: 250-278. PMID: 32837173, PMCID: PMC7417202, DOI: 10.1007/s12103-020-09559-9.
  • Let Me Be Bill-free”: Consumer Debt in the Shadow of IncarcerationHarper AH, Bardelli T, Barrenger S. Let Me Be Bill-free”: Consumer Debt in the Shadow of Incarceration. Sociological Perspectives. 2020; 63(6):978-1001. doi: doi:10.1177/0731121420968124.
  • Stimulus payments for the most financially vulnerable3. Harper, A. (2020). Stimulus payments for the most financially vulnerable. Procedurally Taxing. https://procedurallytaxing.com/stimulus-payments-for-the-most-financially-vulnerable/#comments
  • Towards a Biopsychosocial PsychiatryStrauss J, Bernard P, Harper A. Towards a Biopsychosocial Psychiatry. Psychiatry 2019, 82: 103-112. PMID: 30925114, DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2019.1579609.
  • Banking for All: Why Financial Institutions Need to Offer Supportive Banking Features.Farr, B., Cash, B. and Harper, A. (2019). Banking for All: Why Financial Institutions Need to Offer Supportive Banking Features. Yale Law School/Yale Department of Psychiatry
  • Making Dollars and Sense: Support for Patients With Mental Health ChallengesHarper A. Making Dollars and Sense: Support for Patients With Mental Health Challenges. Psychiatric Times. October 14, 2019. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/schizophrenia/making-dollars-and-sense-support-patients-mental-health-challenges.
  • Disabled, Poor, and Poorly Served: Access to and Use of Financial Services by People with Serious Mental IllnessHarper, A., Staeheli, M., Edwards, D., Herring, Y and Baker, Michaella. 2018. Disabled, Poor, and Poorly Served: Access to and Use of Financial Services by People with Serious Mental Illness. Social Services Review
  • Relegated to chronic poverty: financial difficulties faced by people with mental illness in the United StatesHarper, A. 2018. Relegated to chronic poverty: financial difficulties faced by people with mental illness in the United States. Enterprise Development and Microfinance, 29:1, 64–79
  • Financial Management Support for SSA Beneficiaries: Looking Beyond the PayeeHarper, A. (2018). Financial Management Support for SSA Beneficiaries: Looking Beyond the Payee. Working Paper 20185. Chestnut Hill, MA: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
  • America's Hidden DebtHarper, A. (2018). America’s Hidden Debt. Private Debt Project. Retrieved from http://www.privatedebtproject.org/view-articles.php?America-s-Hidden-Debt-38
  • Money and mental health in the US: Why systems matterHarper, A. (2018). Money and mental health in the US: Why systems matter. Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/money-and-mental-health-in-the-us/
  • Child Care for Working Families Act will improve the quality and quantity of child careHarper, A. and Wagner, J. Child Care for Working Families Act will improve the quality and quantity of child care. Editorial. www.thehill.com. 13 March, 2018.
  • Payday Loans – Hard to Pay offHarper, A. “Payday Loans – Hard to Pay off”. Editorial. http://garnetnews.com/. 27 April, 2018.
  • Finding citizenship: What works?Harper A, Kriegel L, Morris C, Hamer H, Gambino M. Finding citizenship: What works? American Journal Of Psychiatric Rehabilitation 2017, 20: 200-217. DOI: 10.1080/15487768.2017.1338036.
  • Health and Safety Barriers to WeatherizationHarper, A. (2017). Health and Safety Barriers to Weatherization. Yale Office of Sustainability.
  • Universal basic income can't solve the disability/poverty nexus aloneHarper, A. “Universal basic income can't solve the disability/poverty nexus alone.” Editorial. www.thehill.com. 3 Nov. 2017.
  • This Nasty Bank Fee Makes It Much Harder to Climb Out of PovertyHarper, A. “This Nasty Bank Fee Makes It Much Harder to Climb Out of Poverty.” Editorial. www.time.com/money. 18 Oct. 2017
  • Environment-Level Strategies to Support Independent Control of Finances: A Response to the SSA Review of Financial Capability Determination ReviewHarper A, Rowe M. Environment-Level Strategies to Support Independent Control of Finances: A Response to the SSA Review of Financial Capability Determination Review. Psychiatric Services 2016, 68: 6-8. PMID: 27745540, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600428.
  • Better Eating and Recovery: Addressing Food Insecurity at an urban Community Mental Health CenterDebor M, Gallagher A, Blinten F, Sernyak M, Cole R, Olsen S, & Harper A. 2016, Better Eating and Recovery: Addressing Food Insecurity at an urban Community Mental Health Center. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Vol 20 (1) 75-84.
  • Financial Health and Mental Health Among Clients of a Community Mental Health Center: Making the ConnectionsHarper A, Clayton A, Bailey M, Foss-Kelly L, Sernyak MJ, Rowe M. Financial Health and Mental Health Among Clients of a Community Mental Health Center: Making the Connections. Psychiatric Services 2015, 66: 1271-1276. PMID: 26234330, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400438.
  • Low-income renters haven’t benefited from free weatherization programsHarper, A. “Low-income renters haven’t benefited from free weatherization programs.” Connecticut Mirror. https://www.google.com/search?q=ct+mirror+annie+harpe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab. 18 May 2015.
  • Financial Health and Social RecoveryHarper A, Rowe M. Financial Health and Social Recovery. Psychiatric Services 2014, 65: 707-707. PMID: 24881680, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201300526.
  • Financial Health and Social Recovery, Psychiatric Services Taking IssueHarper, A., and Rowe, M., 2014, Financial Health and Social Recovery, Psychiatric Services Taking Issue.
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