Tragedy as mother, 21, ‘takes her own life’ just days before Christmas after battling with her mental health as friends pay tribute to ‘vibrant’ mum who was ‘full of life’
- Casey Thornhill, 21, had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
- Ms Thornhill’s mother, Julia Guest, said she wants to raise awareness of illness
- A family friend paid tribute to the ‘lovely’ mother-of-one, who died last week
- Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org
A ‘vibrant’ mother-of-one ‘took her own life’ just nine days before Christmas after battling with her mental health, her friends say.
Casey Thornhill, 21, who had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), died last Wednesday.
Ms Thornhill, from Beighton, Sheffield, leaves behind a family, her boyfriend, and her three-year-old son Noah.
Family friend Rachel Jackson has set up a memorial fund to help Noah which has already raised more than £17,500.
Casey Thornhill (pictured with her three-year-old son Noah), 21, who had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), died last Wednesday
Family friend Rachel Jackson paid tribute to the mother-of-one from Beighton, Sheffield, describing her as a ‘lovely person, vibrant and full of life’
Rachel said: ‘She was a lovely person, vibrant and full of life. She had some really good friends and most of all she was a fantastic mum.
‘I lived opposite her mum so watched Casey grow up. She had troubles from being a teenager. Her mum Julia fought to get her the right help and Casey did too once she became an adult.
‘She was eventually diagnosed with BPD, borderline personality disorder, and since then she has been fighting for the right treatment.
‘She had just started treatment before her death, but obviously it was just too late for her.
‘At the time she was in a really good place and recently had her nails done and bought Christmas PJs for the family.
‘But one thing that people don’t realise with BPD is that changes can happen really quickly.’
Ms Thornhill’s mother, Julia Guest, has said that she wants to raise awareness of the illness so that others suffering from it can get help.
Some of the symptoms of the illness include emotional instability, disturbed patterns of thinking or perception, impulsive behaviour, and intense but unstable relationships with others.
Ms Thornhill pictured left and right, with her son Noah. Ms Jackson has set up a memorial fund to help Noah which has already raised more than £17,500
Rachel said: ‘We found out on Wednesday night and it really upset us.
‘There’s not much you can do in this situation so we thought that we would set up a fundraiser that will help Noah in the future.
‘We also wanted to help raise understanding of the illness. Casey wanted help, she knew she was ill and she just wanted to be okay for Noah.
‘But the illness can make things happen really quickly and suddenly.
‘It really was a tragic ending.’
Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org