By Daniel Agbesi Latsu
Kadjebi (O/R), July 23, GNA – Mr David Naboare, a Mental Health Officer, has expressed concern over the increasing practice of recording intimate sexual encounters and leaking them without the consent of those involved.
He warned that the trend has serious mental health, social and legal consequences.
He said the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos was not merely a scandal or gossip, but a grave violation of privacy, trust and human dignity that could leave lasting psychological scars on victims and affect their families, relationships and workplaces.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, Mr Naboare said when intimate images or recordings were shared without consent, the focus should not be on blaming the victim but on recognising the leakage as a breach of trust, and in many jurisdictions, a violation of privacy and consent laws.
“What has actually occurred is a breach of trust, and in most jurisdictions, a violation of privacy and consent law,” he said.
Mr Naboare explained that victims often experienced severe emotional distress immediately after such incidents, with many suffering acute trauma, shame, self-blame, anxiety and constant fear that the content could resurface at any time.
He said some victims also developed depression, social withdrawal and loss of self-esteem, while in severe cases, the experience could lead to suicidal thoughts if they did not receive timely psychological and emotional support.
The Mental Health Officer noted that the impact was not limited to the individual whose images or videos were leaked, as partners and family members could also suffer betrayal trauma, strained relationships, communication breakdown and secondary emotional distress.
He said the consequences frequently extended into workplaces and schools, where victims might struggle to concentrate, withdraw from colleagues, experience stigma or take prolonged periods of leave because of embarrassment and emotional pain.
Mr Naboare warned that if left unaddressed, the psychological effects could reduce productivity, affect interpersonal relationships and lead to long-term mental health conditions.
He urged the public to refrain from recording or sharing intimate content without explicit consent and encouraged people who came across such materials not to circulate them further.
He also appealed to victims to seek professional counselling and support rather than suffer in silence, stressing that early intervention could help reduce the long-term psychological impact.
Mr Naboare called on employers, schools, religious bodies, community leaders and mental health professionals to create safe and supportive environments where survivors could report such incidents without fear of stigma or victimisation.
He said society must move beyond treating the issue as entertainment or scandal and instead recognise it as a serious violation of human rights with significant mental health implications.
“We must build families, workplaces and communities that respond with compassion, empathy and support rather than judgment and blame,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah