Can mental illness and trauma be healed through spiritual association and chanting?

Yes, spiritual association and chanting the holy names can profoundly heal the wounds of mental illness and trauma, for as stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17), Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Paramātmā within everyone’s heart, cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who develops the urge to hear His messages, and (1.2.18) confirms that by regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed. The vibration of the transcendental sound gradually purifies the contaminated mind, allowing the living entity to reconnect with their eternal, joyful nature beyond the temporary afflictions of the material world. Yet we must understand that Kṛṣṇa personally oversees this healing process, as He promises in Bhagavad-gītā (9.22) that those who worship Him with exclusive devotion, meditating on His transcendental form, He carries what they lack and preserves what they have, ensuring that no sincere soul is left without His mercy. Therefore, while immersing oneself in the association of saintly persons and chanting the maha-mantra with faith, one should also responsibly seek appropriate medical and psychological care, recognizing that the Lord works through both spiritual and material means to restore the devotee’s equilibrium, ultimately leading them to the stage of unshakable loving service.