Supporting Your Teen: Addressing Depression and Eating Disorders Together
Aired October 22, 2025
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Deep feelings of sadness and worthlessness often intertwine with a troubled relationship with food and body image. For teens struggling with both depression and eating disorders, the impact on their physical and emotional well-being can be devastating.
Parents may notice changes in their teen’s mood, social interactions, and eating habits but feel unsure about addressing these sensitive topics. Because early intervention leads to better outcomes, it’s crucial for parents to have the knowledge and strategies to help their teens find a path to recovery.
Join Families for Depression Awareness and the National Eating Disorders Association for a webinar exploring the complex relationship between depression and eating disorders in teens. Rocio Avila, LCSW-S will discuss how these conditions intersect, share practical strategies for supporting teens, and provide guidance on accessing appropriate treatment resources.
This program is supported by
George Harrington Trust
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program
Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation
Bennett Family Foundation
Rebecca Pomroy Foundation
Thomas Anthony Pappas Foundation
Presenters
Rocio Avila Salinas, LCSW-S
Rocio is a bilingual and multicultural therapist who has dedicated the last 16 years of her career to working with those with mental health needs in the central Texas region. Rocio earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas State University San Marcos, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Rocio’s experience includes managing clinical operations at multiple levels of care, including acute inpatient psychiatric, and outpatient clinics. She has also served on various hospital and company committees including bioethics, diversity inclusion and belonging, and speciality therapy committees. Rocio has extensive experience in working with individuals with severe mental illness, complex trauma, eating disorders and disordered eating, obsessive compulsive disorder, and acute crisis intervention. Currently Rocio works as Clinic Director for Family Care Center, Cedar Park location. Rocio is passionate about working with Latina/o/x individuals and family systems and strives to educate, support, and empower others to promote healing.
Susan Weinstein, JD, Moderator
Susan Weinstein, JD, Executive Director, has been involved in Families for Depression Awareness leadership since 2016. Susan was diagnosed with depression in her teens and has drawn from her personal experiences to inform FFDA’s curriculum. She has worked in nonprofits and local government throughout her career, generally in a non-legal capacity. She holds several volunteer positions, including serving on the Executive Committee and as Governance Committee Chair of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention and holding a variety of elected and appointed seats in her town government since 1992. A native of South Florida, Susan is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Boston University School of Law.
