Tips For Talking To Friends, Neighbors Who Oppose Wearing A Mask

Mask wearing is a polarizing topic, so one expert recommends starting with questions, sharing reliable information, and knowing when to walk away.

Whether in school or at the grocery store, mask wearing has become a polarizing topic. Yet it's one of the simplest steps people can take to help stop the spread of COVID-19. So what’s the most effective way to talk to someone who opposes wearing a mask?   "People have no hesitation at all of wanting to spout whatever their personal belief is. And I think that it's important to allow them to discharge that first, before you try to come with a counterpoint," said Gregory Nawalanic, a clinical psychologist for the University of Kansas Health System. The political division caused by the pandemic plays a big role in conversations about masking, social distancing and the vaccines. Clinical psychologist Gregory Nawalanic says any productive conversation should start with questions.