The move to increase crisis support hours at the centre in Port Macquarie has been made possible by funding provided by the federal government to help manage the impacts of COVID on mental health.

Trainer and manager of crisis support at Lifeline Mid Coast Di Bannister said the funding was provided to help aid suicide prevention, hardships or service provisions at the 11 NSW Lifeline centres.

"The bulk of the funding we received will be going towards service provision which will mean we will be able to extend our overnight shifts in the call centre. They will now run 24 hours a day and seven days a week from mid September," she said.

"With the funding we've received we think we'll be able to keep the call centre operational 24 hours a day for the next eight months which will address the immediate need for crisis support."

The decision to expand the hours of national crisis support at Lifeline Mid Coast comes following the increased demand for support during COVID lockdowns and harder restrictions.

Lifeline experienced its highest volume of calls in the organisation's 58-year history on August 2, with 3345 calls received.

Currently the Port Macquarie call centre is operational from 6am to 2.30am and from mid-September an additional shift will be added that will cover the time slot from 2.30am to 6am.

"The early morning hours can be the most isolating for people and is often when people need crisis support," Ms Bannister said.

"A lot of crisis services aren't available during those early morning hours and having our call centre operational during that time will help provide more crisis supporters on hand to provide assistance nationally."

The Port Macquarie crisis support call centre has two phones that are manned by 85 volunteers on rotating shifts.

Currently 10 volunteers work during the night shift which will increase to around 18 when the extra shift is introduced.

"The funding will also provide employment for additional crisis supporters and will help our volunteers get paid work," Ms Bannister said.

Reaching out in tough times can be difficult for people, but Ms Bannister said early intervention can result in more positive outcomes.

"A lot of people don't know that Lifeline isn't just for suicide prevention and crisis situations, we are here for everyday Aussies who have never called before and didn't expect they would ever need to," she said.

"Sometimes people need to talk about their problems and stressful situations they're facing and that early intervention does reassure people and help their situation.

"We know that it does take a lot for someone to pick up the phone and call, but what we're hoping to do is reach in to people once they reach out to us and help them through whatever it is that they need support in.

"They aren't being forgotten."

If you, or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Additionally you can text Lifeline on 0477 13 11 14 from 6pm - midnight or chat online to a crisis supporter at www.lifeline.org.au from 7pm - midnight.

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