Exit Plan

Coming Soon

A clear, practical way out of the youth mental health crisis for parents, educators, and legislators.
We’re living through a youth mental health crisis—and for many adults trying to fix it, the hardest part is that nothing seems to change. Despite best intentions, schools, families, and systems often feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin.
In Exit Plan: Mapping a Way Out of the Youth Mental Health Crisis, Dr. Kathleen Mackenzie draws on decades of work inside K–12 schools to explain what this crisis really looks like on the ground. Along the way, she explores why it’s happening now and, more importantly, what actually helps.
Through vivid stories and practical examples, readers gain insight into how schools can respond differently and how families can take meaningful action. Rather than offering quick fixes, this book focuses on grounded, realistic steps you can start using right away.
At its core, Exit Plan is part memoir and part practical guide—rooted in dignity, autonomy, and harm reduction. It is written as a direct conversation with parents, educators, and leaders who are ready for change.
You’ll learn why sleep is foundational (not a luxury), how digital environments shape mood and motivation, and how to build an “exit plan” at home, in classrooms, and at the policy level. Most importantly, the book offers clarity without panic and direction without blame.
Because protecting kids takes all of us, this work emphasizes collaboration over control. We can’t keep doing more of the same—and the good news is, we don’t have to.