Tributes were paid to a much-loved young Whitehaven woman who was bullied at school and struggled with mental illness.

Diana Panida Pattinson, 23, died on November 8 last year at her Whitehaven home.

An inquest on Tuesday, in Cockermouth, heard she had struggled with her mental health from the age of 15 and been in and out of hospital over the years.

Miss Pattinson was born in Thailand in 1998 and moved to Frizington the following year with her parents, David Pattinson and Toy Anderson.

The couple later split up and Mrs Anderson moved to Whitehaven with Miss Pattinson and her brother, David.

She was living in the family home in Burnmoor Avenue, Whitehaven, and part of a large, supportive extended family, the inquest heard.

"She was a fun-loving girl and loved life. From an early age she was interested in a modelling career," said Mrs Anderson.

"In the final two years of secondary school she was subjected to bullying. She didn't tell us at the time, this is when the self harm and suicide attempts started.

"Over a five-year period she was in the care of seven different hospitals around the country."

Prior to her death, Miss Pattinson was on medication, living at home and "doing well", said her mother.

"In the last few weeks she had shown no signs of feeling low, she was setting herself goals and achieving them."

Mrs Anderson had returned home from work on the afternoon of November 8.

"She seemed happy and was asking about getting a part-time job," she said.

Miss Pattinson was called for tea at 7pm but did not respond, it was presumed she was sleeping. When Mrs Anderson went to her bedroom at 10.30pm she found her daughter slumped on the floor.

Her brother, David, attempted CPR while emergency services were called. She was declared deceased.

A significant amount of medication blister packs - empty and full - were found in her room, said police.

The inquest heard Miss Pattinson had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. She was on a mental health care plan and medication, which was given weekly.

A post mortem revealed Miss Pattinson had taken an "enormous cocktail" of various prescribed medications, way above therapeutic levels, said coroner Margaret Taylor.

Following the death, a report was done by Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, as she was under their care at the time.

"There were many good points recognised by the trust in the way in which the care was delivered," said Ms Taylor. "There were some concerns."

Involvement and clinical supervision was not well documented in records, it was found, said Ms Taylor. An action plan is in place to address these issues, the inquest heard.

"I do not believe the issues identified would have altered the outcome. It could in other cases make a difference so I'm happy the trust has recognised areas of deficiencies and will ensure they do something," she said.

"There were many challenges she had throughout her life, I cannot imagine how difficult it was when Diana was so unwell," she said to her family.

After hearing various statements from the family, police and trust, Ms Taylor said: "I have considered all the evidence very carefully. Mum says Diana was really happy the day she died. She was living between her parents and obviously had a very supportive network.

"She was bullied at school which lead to a deterioration in her mental health, she was aged 15 when this started.

"Eventually she required hospital admissions and was obviously very unwell. She had a number of admissions under the Mental Health Act.

"She was eventually discharged but by that stage she had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder which I'm sure you know can lead to impulsivity.

"She was on medication and anti-psychotics and appeared to be complying and more settled.

"She was preparing for Christmas and planning for the future." 

Toxicological analysis showed "a very big overdose of numerous drugs", said Ms Taylor.

"At the time she did not appear to be experiencing relapse or psychosis, so what did she mean by taking all that medication?

"Sadly often when people make a decision that they're going to do something, even if it's an impulsive decision, you do not get the signs.

"As a coroner that's what we often see, there's a period of calmness. I know as a family that's very very difficult.

"She had been good about taking things therapeutically but I'm driven to a conclusion that she must have known that was not therapeutic and the consequences she was going to die as a result.

"I can see you are all an incredibly supportive family. It's a tragedy.

"I'm going to conclude she died as a consequence of suicide."

Ms Taylor offered her condolences and said: "You have lost a talented child too early."

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