Cara died following a cry of help, say family as tributes are paid to a "generous and warm-hearted" woman

Tributes have been paid to a young mental health worker from Staindrop who died following a “cry for help” despite devoting her time to helping others cope with the demands of life.
Cara Firmin grew up in Staindrop, attending both schools in the village.

She moved to Barnard Castle during her studies at Teesdale Sixth Form, where she gained a BTEC diploma in childcare. To further her studies and attend university, Ms Firmin moved to Warrington, where she died on Sunday, May 7 aged 24.
Ms Firmin attended the University of Chester and remained there after receiving a Higher National Diploma in youth work.
Since January, Ms Firmin had been working for the North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. In her role, she worked hard to improve the care given to mental health patients – an issue close to her heart.
In a touching tribute, Ms Firmin’s family said: “Cara was generous and warm-hearted and everyone she met only had kind words to say about her. She was dedicated to helping and caring for others, despite having many struggles of her own with borderline personality disorder, and had a very positive impact in both Teesdale and Warrington. She brought so much love into our lives and will be sorely missed by the many whose lives she touched with her kindness and compassion.
“Cara took an overdose as a cry for help, presumably to be re-admitted to a mental hospital for greater support and treatment, got herself to A&E but they couldn’t save her.
“She’d been admitted several times, yet the aftercare upon her leaving simply wasn’t enough to get her back on track for a prolonged period of time and they couldn’t admit her to hospital without her doing an act of self harm.
“She was trapped in a vicious circle.”
When she lived in Teesdale, Ms Firmin regularly attended Teesdale YMCA, in Barnard Castle, and became a volunteer from May 2011 to September 2012.
A Teesdale YMCA spokesperson said: “Cara dedicated so much of her time to the YMCA and without her support many of the projects we did during her time volunteering would not have been able to happen.
“The positive relationships that she had with young people were beneficial to the work that we do. Cara always had a way of making people feel good and welcomed everyone into the centre with a smile, putting her personal issues to one side.
“Cara was so much more than a volunteer. She was a mentor and role model to the young people we worked with but much more importantly she became a friend to many of the staff that worked at the YMCA at the time.
“We cannot explain the gratitude we have for Cara or how much she will be missed by the whole community but we are extremely fortunate to have had the pleasure to work with and support such a caring and selfless person as Cara.”
A gifted vocalist, Ms Firmin was a member of the dale choir Concordia with whom she recorded two albums and performed in several concerts. She was also involved in Teesdale Community Resources’ singing programme, which led to her taking part in the development of The TCR Hub in Barnard Castle.
Cara leaves behind her parents, Kathryn Walker and Tony Firmin. She was also a sister to Alice and Molly.
An inquest in to Cara’s death has been opened and adjourned. Cara’s funeral will be held at Wear Valley Crematorium next Tuesday, May 23, at noon. The family are hoping to see as many people there as possible and are asking everyone to wear bright colours to celebrate Cara’s life.
The date of Cara’s death also marked the eve of Mental Health Awareness Week which ran from May 8 to 14. Donations will be collected at Cara’s funeral for the mental health charity Mind. Family flowers only.
l Are you a young person struggling with life? Contact PAPYRUS HOPELineUK. Call 0800 068 41 41. Text 07786 209697.