Welcome back, First Gens! This week on The First Gen Madrina, we have a very special episode. As you know, this month is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s also our theme for the month of May. Something that I speak about often is my journey with mental health and how much my mom helped me along the way. That’s why I am so very excited to welcome my mom as my last special guest for May!
Naty Diaz
As you might know, my mom’s story begins in Cuba, where her family made the difficult decision to leave everything behind in search of freedom and opportunity in the U.S. She was also the first to seek therapy in our family, which made her a first gen in more ways than one. Like many immigrant parents, she carried the pressure of building a life from scratch while trying to keep her children from the same struggles she faced.
But life doesn’t always go as planned. After years of being the family’s rock, working full-time, raising kids, and navigating cultural expectations, she experienced her first major anxiety and panic attack. At the time, mental health wasn’t something that was talked about in our community. She felt isolated, confused, and ashamed. But instead of hiding it, she went looking for help. Her journey through therapy, medication, and eventually healing, laid the foundation for my sister and I to understand our own mental health, and to talk openly about it.
Mental Health as a First Gen
In this episode, we talk about everything! We discuss how unspoken traumas can come back up years later, how cultural silence can deepen our suffering, and why we need to redefine strength. My mom’s vulnerability is a reminder that healing is possible, and that getting help is actually braver than we think.
We also want to remind you all that we don’t have to tough it out or choose between surviving and taking care of ourselves. We don’t have to hide how we feel and if we don’t talk about it, there may be no room for growth. Remember that even if your family may not be as understanding or supportive of your journey, you have a community, and a Madrina here to help you along the way. We hope you enjoy this raw and vulnerable episode!
The First Gen Madrina/ The Social Work Madrina
If you are a University, College, Company or Organization, The First Gen Madrina offers workshops on a variety of topics (such as imposter syndrome, time management, managing burnout, building a self-care plan, etc..), custom built mentorship programs as well as customized services tailored to your needs.
In order to follow along, remember to rate, review, and subscribe to The First Gen Madrina Podcast to stay connected. Also, follow on Instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. Sara acknowledges that the term first gen can be fluid, so The First Gen Madrina is committed to supporting all first gens! This isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about providing unwavering support that propels individuals to embrace life’s challenges and triumphs.
Also, in case you have missed it, I recently announced a new branch of The First Gen Madrina called The Social Work Madrina. The Social Work Madrina will bring intentional support to social workers and more programming on mental health. Within TSWM, you will find The Madrina Network: A Community for Social Workers!
Our community deserves more support, guidance and resources.
Soooooo are you ready? Here are some highlights of the community!
Monthly zoom calls to discuss the successes, challenges and needs of the social work community.
Opportunity to network with fellow social workers from all over the U.S!
Monthly workshops with different social work-related themes.
Optional coaching time with me for additional support!
Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for more information! Check out thefirstgenmadrina.com/themadrinanetwork for more information soon!
¡Hasta pronto!
Sara, The First Gen Madrina and The Social Work Madrina
