Frequently Asked Questions

I Am Here is a programme that creates a culture of support through compassionate connection. I Am Here helps change beliefs and behaviours associated with mental health and emotional wellbeing through acceptance that it’s ok not to feel ok; and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help.
Yes. The Arena is open and available to everyone, so please share access with your family, friends and fellow Team Members. Only Fáilte Ireland Team Members can log in, interact and share stories; however, everyone can access and view the available content.
All Fáilte Ireland Team Members can sign into The Arena here. By signing up and logging in, Team Members will be able to contribute to forum discussions, share stories, write blogs and interact with other Team Members. Only Fáilte Ireland Team members can sign up and log in to The Arena. However, The Arena is open and available to everyone to see content that has been shared in discussions, webinars, stories and blogs, as well as to access the I Am Here courseware.
Yes. Anyone can access and undertake the courseware through The Arena. However, to become a certified Tribe Member or Ambassador, Fáilte Ireland Team Members must access the courseware through the LMS.
Yes. A moderator reviews all comments, replies, posts and stories to determine if they are appropriate and in alignment with the I Am Here message before going live on The Arena.
  • A Team Member is a person working within Fáilte Ireland.
  • A Tribe Member is a Fáilte Ireland Team Member who has completed the I Am Here: Tribe Members course and then becomes an advocate for the I Am Here movement.
  • An Ambassador is a Fáilte Ireland Tribe Member who has completed the I Am Here: Ambassadors course to develop the courage, confidence and skills to act as a signpost to connect people with the help and support they may need.
A Tribe Member:
  • Helps build a culture of support within Fáilte Ireland
  • Promotes I Am Here to others within Fáilte Ireland
  • Recruits more Tribe Members within Fáilte Ireland
An Ambassador develops the courage, confidence and skills to act as a signpost to connect people with the help and support they may need. An Ambassador is not expected to be a counsellor or psychologist or to have medical training. An Ambassador is required to be the signpost that points the way to greater mental health and emotional wellbeing for fellow Fáilte Ireland Team Members.
Tribe Members and Ambassadors come from all areas of Fáilte Ireland. Together, they create a culture where it’s ok not to feel ok; and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help.
The I Am Here journey comprises four components:
  • I Am Here: The Why – Creating Awareness (three-minute video)
  • I Am Here: Tribe Members – Changing Beliefs & Behaviours (30-minute eLearning course)
  • I Am Here: Ambassadors – Building Courage, Confidence & Skills (two-hour eLearning course)
  • I Am Here: The Arena – Sharing Stories, Sharing Support (ongoing supports)
Select the link to access the I Am Here journey map for further details. I Am Here journey map
To Show you care is to build a contract of trust that proves you completely accept your fellow human being and are offering your total support. There are many ways to Show you care, depending on what feels right for you, your fellow human being and the situation. The I Am Here: Ambassadors course explores the appropriate ways to reach out and Show you care through different scenarios.
To Ask the question is to test your assumption that the person is not feeling ok rather than working off a hunch. The clues gained through Show you care are used to guide your questioning so you can delve deeper and gain authentic answers. Be as direct and specific as you can without labelling the person’s situation.
Call for help is where you hand over the person to the help or support they require. It is entirely the person’s choice to take the help or support offered once you have made the connection.
Ambassadors are CLEAR, that is, they demonstrate:
  • Compassion – To show compassion is to have the desire to relieve the suffering of a fellow human being by showing genuine concern for their situation, acting with kindness and care and being there for them.
  • Listening – You could say that listening actively is the most important skill that underpins I Am Here. Listening carefully involves  ‘listening with all your senses’ to understand the person’s full message.
  • Empathy – Showing empathy is the ability to step into your fellow human being’s shoes to understand the situation from their perspective.
  • Acceptance – Total acceptance means putting aside your own opinions, values and bias. A person who feels accepted is more likely to trust you to guide them to help and support on offer.
  • Real – An Ambassador is real and authentic. This means showing up as yourself so that the person can also be themselves.