For years after her teenage son died, Sharlene Lynch couldn't bear the thought of celebrating Christmas.

Key points: Mental health support service Lifeline is experiencing higher demand this Christmas

Mental health support service Lifeline is experiencing higher demand this Christmas It says recent and ongoing bushfires are adding to the burden many are feeling

It says recent and ongoing bushfires are adding to the burden many are feeling An Adelaide mother is speaking out, urging those who need it to seek support

Scott Lynch took his own life in September 2011, just a week before his 18th birthday.

"I tried for 15 long minutes to resuscitate him all while praying that I would be able to revive him," she said.

Scott was on the verge of adulthood, and Ms Lynch said he had seemed like a very happy young man.

"Everything looked OK on the outside for my son, it looked better than OK, and obviously that wasn't the case," she said.

"People don't know what you're going through, and they're going to assume if everything looks OK on the outside that everything is OK on the inside."

For Ms Lynch, the Christmas season was once a holiday period filled with joy and happiness, but it quickly turned into a time of loneliness and isolation.

"I just sort of cancelled Christmas," she said.

"I didn't do a Christmas tree, didn't do the decorations, didn't do all the things we'd always done as a family.

"At one point in time I didn't have pictures of him in the house, because every time I saw a picture it just started me up again."

Ms Lynch with her son Scott decorating their Christmas tree. ( Supplied )

It has taken years of healing and self-discovery for Ms Lynch to be able to embrace the memory of Scott over the festive period, but she said it had become a little easier.

"Now the house is full of pictures," she said.

"I'm absolutely an advocate for people reaching out over Christmas."

Rising need driven by bushfires, Lifeline says

Ms Lynch has spoken out in the hope of raising awareness when it comes to mental health, and to encourage those struggling to reach out.

"I decided that I was going to thrive through this not just survive, because I felt that's what he would want," she said.

Ms Lynch now keeps many photos of her son Scott around the house. ( Supplied )

Crisis support service Lifeline said it was tackling a spike in calls this holiday period, and the group's Adelaide service manager Joanne Cooley said staffing arrangements over Christmas reflected the higher need for assistance.

"We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for people," Ms Cooley told the ABC.

"We do usually have more people contacting us in the period after Christmas."

Lifeline Adelaide service manager Joanne Cooley. ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

In South Australia, there has been a 6 per cent increase in calls for the month of December.

Nationally, that number has increased by 10 per cent, with many coming from people impacted by drought and bushfire in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

"We understand that the fires in South Australia and across the country have really been impacting people," Ms Cooley said.

"Our crisis supporters have certainly been receiving calls from people in distress."

Staying connected during times of grief

Healing expert Sharon Muscet is running a workshop to help people connect with their memories of happy Christmases past.

The Adelaide funeral celebrant said dealing with the loss of a loved one over the holiday period could be particularly difficult.

"Major events such as Christmas and New Year trigger grief and overwhelm," Ms Muscet told the ABC.

"We only have to look around our own state to see what's been happening with these catastrophic fires."

Healing expert Sharon Muscet says Christmas can trigger grief for some. ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

South Australia has also experienced its highest road toll in a decade, and Ms Muscet said through those deaths alone, there were hundreds — and potentially thousands — of surviving families and friends who would find it very difficult to manage their emotions.

SA Health has highlighted the mental health impact of the bushfires, saying it was normal for people to experience psychological distress.

Chief psychiatrist John Brayley said survivors could experience a range of emotional and physical responses, including anxiety, intrusive thoughts, fatigue, headaches and nausea.

"We know the people who stay connected and are with their supports — family and friends — will do better," Dr Brayley said.

"If somebody does appear to be withdrawing reaching out to talk to them is important."