Exploring our professional role and existential identity as social work academics in challenging racism and mental health stigma.

Social work is underpinned by values of anti-oppressive practice and social justice. Our professional standards require social workers to consider their personal and professional development. Thus, this article combines a reflection on both our professional role as academics and our existential identity as social workers in challenging racism and mental health stigma. To progress equality of opportunity, we argue it is necessary to understand first what we mean by an ‘integrated society’ before we can secondly challenge diverse forms of oppression. We conclude, by positing that a community free of interpersonal, institutional and structural oppression, may only be possible within a virtual world.