July 23, 2026

December 2025

Delhi schools are shifting students up to Class V to online learning due to severe air pollution, with the AQI reaching 498. Physical classes for younger children are suspended until further notice. Older students (Class VI and above) will continue with existing arrangements. Authorities advise precautions as pollution is expected to remain high. Increasing air pollution in Delhi (PTI image) NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday directed schools to shift students up to Class V from hybrid to fully online mode in view of the capital’s worsening air pollution.According to a circular issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE), physical classes for students from nursery to Class V in all government, government-aided and unaided private recognised schools in Delhi have been discontinued until further orders due to the prevailing high Air Quality Index (AQI).The order applies to all government, government-aided and private recognised schools in Delhi. School heads have been instructed to ensure that online classes are available for younger students and to inform parents and guardians immediately.The circular clarified that classes for Class VI and above will continue without any change and will be conducted as per earlier instructions issued on December 13. District and zonal education officials have also been asked to ensure smooth implementation of the directions.Delhi remained shrouded in dense smog with the AQI touching 498, close to the maximum level of 500. The city’s air quality monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ levels at 38 locations and ‘very poor’ at two stations, with Jahangirpuri recording the worst AQI of 498.Several residents complained of breathlessness, low visibility and health risks. Pollution levels have steadily worsened over the past two days, raising concerns especially for children and other vulnerable groups.The situation had worsened from Sunday when the AQI climbed to 461, marking Delhi’s most polluted day this winter and the second-worst December air quality day on record. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category, with predictions for the next six days showing ‘very poor’ conditions.The current pollution levels pose serious health risks to the city’s population, with authorities advising people to take necessary precautions. The situation remains particularly concerning as the winter season typically sees increased pollution levels in the capital region.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFrom Missiles To Torpedoes, DRDO Outlines India’s Big Defence Push For Near-Term Battlefield EdgePM Modi Begins Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman Tour To Boost Ancient Ties, Expand India’s Global South RoleIndian Diaspora Members Prepare Cultural Performances Ahead Of PM Modi’s Jordan VisitFrom Power Cuts To 500 GW Grid, India Emerges As Global Data Centre Hub Under Modi: Piyush GoyalCong’s ‘Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi’ Slogan Sparks Uproar, NDA Seeks Apology As Parliament Grinds To Halt”Abusing PM Does Not Befit” Rijiju Seeks apology From Congress Over Anti-Modi SlogansYogi Adityanath Targets Nehru Over Kashmir, Links Historic Blunder To India’s Long Terror CrisisWho Is Sajid And Naveed Akram? Bondi Beach Attacker Father-Son Duo Shame Pakistan With Terror AttackLetter To Sonia Gandhi Costs Ex Odisha MLA Moquim Party Post As Congress Cites Anti Party ActivitiesSambit Patra Criticises Congress ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ Rally At Delhi’S Ramlila Maidan123Photostories6 Traditional egg curries from different parts of the countryAnkita Lokhande and Vicky Jain’s love story: From being close friends to getting remarried in EuropeUttarakhand Govt announces snow leopard tour to boost winter tourism; 5 other Indian spots to see the Big CatMrunal Thakur’s colourful Paithani saree is a bold love letter to Maharashtrian cultureFrom ethnic glam to chic streetwear: ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Farrhana Bhatt’s fashion diaryWhat is binge eating disorder and how to fix it?9 Auspicious Symbols According To Your Birth Date‘Housefull 5’, ‘Sikandar’, ‘Nadaaniyan’: 2025 films that struggled to make an impact at the box office7 animals whose names begin with the letter VPune’s double-decker flyover ready to decongest city, Metro Line-3 and town projects set to transform mobility123Hot PicksBondi beach attackCorona RemediesJetBlue flight VenezuelaGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDelhi SchoolMLB Trade RumorsNFL PlayoffPhilip River KidsLuka Modric and Vanja Bosnic Net WorthBoston Red SoxDelhi AQILebron JamesDelarum PouyabaharWho is Paige Shiver

Delhi schools are shifting students up to Class V to online learning due to severe air pollution, with the AQI reaching 498. Physical classes for younger children are suspended until further notice. Older students (Class VI and above) will continue with existing arrangements. Authorities advise precautions as pollution is expected to remain high. Increasing air pollution in Delhi (PTI image) NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday directed schools to shift students up to Class V from hybrid to fully online mode in view of the capital’s worsening air pollution.According to a circular issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE), physical classes for students from nursery to Class V in all government, government-aided and unaided private recognised schools in Delhi have been discontinued until further orders due to the prevailing high Air Quality Index (AQI).The order applies to all government, government-aided and private recognised schools in Delhi. School heads have been instructed to ensure that online classes are available for younger students and to inform parents and guardians immediately.The circular clarified that classes for Class VI and above will continue without any change and will be conducted as per earlier instructions issued on December 13. District and zonal education officials have also been asked to ensure smooth implementation of the directions.Delhi remained shrouded in dense smog with the AQI touching 498, close to the maximum level of 500. The city’s air quality monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ levels at 38 locations and ‘very poor’ at two stations, with Jahangirpuri recording the worst AQI of 498.Several residents complained of breathlessness, low visibility and health risks. Pollution levels have steadily worsened over the past two days, raising concerns especially for children and other vulnerable groups.The situation had worsened from Sunday when the AQI climbed to 461, marking Delhi’s most polluted day this winter and the second-worst December air quality day on record. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category, with predictions for the next six days showing ‘very poor’ conditions.The current pollution levels pose serious health risks to the city’s population, with authorities advising people to take necessary precautions. The situation remains particularly concerning as the winter season typically sees increased pollution levels in the capital region.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFrom Missiles To Torpedoes, DRDO Outlines India’s Big Defence Push For Near-Term Battlefield EdgePM Modi Begins Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman Tour To Boost Ancient Ties, Expand India’s Global South RoleIndian Diaspora Members Prepare Cultural Performances Ahead Of PM Modi’s Jordan VisitFrom Power Cuts To 500 GW Grid, India Emerges As Global Data Centre Hub Under Modi: Piyush GoyalCong’s ‘Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi’ Slogan Sparks Uproar, NDA Seeks Apology As Parliament Grinds To Halt”Abusing PM Does Not Befit” Rijiju Seeks apology From Congress Over Anti-Modi SlogansYogi Adityanath Targets Nehru Over Kashmir, Links Historic Blunder To India’s Long Terror CrisisWho Is Sajid And Naveed Akram? Bondi Beach Attacker Father-Son Duo Shame Pakistan With Terror AttackLetter To Sonia Gandhi Costs Ex Odisha MLA Moquim Party Post As Congress Cites Anti Party ActivitiesSambit Patra Criticises Congress ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ Rally At Delhi’S Ramlila Maidan123Photostories6 Traditional egg curries from different parts of the countryAnkita Lokhande and Vicky Jain’s love story: From being close friends to getting remarried in EuropeUttarakhand Govt announces snow leopard tour to boost winter tourism; 5 other Indian spots to see the Big CatMrunal Thakur’s colourful Paithani saree is a bold love letter to Maharashtrian cultureFrom ethnic glam to chic streetwear: ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Farrhana Bhatt’s fashion diaryWhat is binge eating disorder and how to fix it?9 Auspicious Symbols According To Your Birth Date‘Housefull 5’, ‘Sikandar’, ‘Nadaaniyan’: 2025 films that struggled to make an impact at the box office7 animals whose names begin with the letter VPune’s double-decker flyover ready to decongest city, Metro Line-3 and town projects set to transform mobility123Hot PicksBondi beach attackCorona RemediesJetBlue flight VenezuelaGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDelhi SchoolMLB Trade RumorsNFL PlayoffPhilip River KidsLuka Modric and Vanja Bosnic Net WorthBoston Red SoxDelhi AQILebron JamesDelarum PouyabaharWho is Paige Shiver

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Increasing air pollution in Delhi (PTI image) NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday directed schools to shift students up to Class V from hybrid to fully online mode in view of the capital’s worsening air pollution.According to a circular issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE), physical classes for students from nursery to Class…

Read More
IND vs SA: Axar Patel ruled out of T20I series vs South Africa; Shahbaz Ahmed named replacement

IND vs SA: Axar Patel ruled out of T20I series vs South Africa; Shahbaz Ahmed named replacement

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Allrounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is against South Africa due to illness.Axar is currently with the Indian team in Lucknow, where he will undergo further medical assessment, the BCCI informed on Monday. Are selectors confused? First Ravindra Jadeja now Axar Patel | Musical chairs! “The Men’s Selection…

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‘Trump’s tariffs pushing India away’: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal warns US may lose trade ally to Russia and China

‘Trump’s tariffs pushing India away’: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal warns US may lose trade ally to Russia and China

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Indian-origin Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal criticised President Trump’s tariffs on Indian goods, saying they are raising prices for Americans and also pushing India closer to other global powers. In a post on X, Jayapal said, “Trump’s tariffs on India aren’t only raising prices for Americans — they are pushing India away as a trading ally and…

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BTSC JE recruitment 2025: Registration begins for 2,809 vacancies at btsc.bihar.gov.in; direct link to apply here

BTSC JE recruitment 2025: Registration begins for 2,809 vacancies at btsc.bihar.gov.in; direct link to apply here

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

BTSC JE recruitment 2025: The Bihar Technical Service Commission (BTSC) has begun the online registration process for the Junior Engineer (JE) recruitment 2025. The recruitment drive seeks to fill a total of 2,809 Junior Engineer posts in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical disciplines across various government departments in Bihar.Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the…

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Madhuri Dixit showers praise on Akshaye Khanna for ‘Dhurandhar’: ‘He was like a newcomer, and I was already a star by then’

Madhuri Dixit showers praise on Akshaye Khanna for ‘Dhurandhar’: ‘He was like a newcomer, and I was already a star by then’

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

In a glowing tribute, Madhuri Dixit praised Akshaye Khanna’s compelling portrayal of Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’. Reflecting on their collaborative history, she noted how Khanna’s talent never wavers. As the film continues to attract accolades and ticket sales soar, fans are already buzzing about the forthcoming sequel. Akshaye Khanna has been receiving…

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Not sure if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to Delhi fog? Track live status here |

Not sure if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to Delhi fog? Track live status here |

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

As reported earlier, Delhi woke up to dense fog today. This had direct repercussions on flight operations, rail travel, as well as those who were commuting. Likewise, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport also witnessed flight disruption, and more than 100 flights were being cancelled. To get the latest, real-time updates on arrivals and departures at…

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Indian-origin woman in Long Beach, Bubbly Kaur, detained by ICE from Green Card interview; living in US since 1994 | World News

Indian-origin woman in Long Beach, Bubbly Kaur, detained by ICE from Green Card interview; living in US since 1994 | World News

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

An Indian-origin woman has been detained by the ICE during her Green Card interview at Long Island, blindsiding her family members, Long Beach Watchdog reported. 60-year-old Bubbly Kaur has been living in the US since 1994 and used to operate Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal in Long Beach, along with her husband, until the…

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Thane Regional Mental Hospital is undergoing redevelopment. This plan involves cutting down over half of its trees. This action will impact the environment and the therapeutic benefits nature provides to patients. Experts suggest decentralizing the hospital to preserve green spaces. The loss of these trees affects local biodiversity and urban well-being. What’s lost when hospitals lose their trees Shrieks serrate the evening air at the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane, as a flock of parakeets swoop into the overstory for a treetop council. Their agenda is easy enough to read, stapled to the trunk of every other tree across these 30 acres: a public notice inviting feedback and objections to the govt’s plan to cut and transplant trees affected by the redevelopment of this 124-year-old hospital complex. What the notice doesn’t spell out is that more than half the trees on the hospital grounds—724 of 1,614—have been marked for the axe, and some have reportedly already been felled. Such sweeping loss of green cover is a body blow to a city barrelling down the freeway to urbanisation. It threatens to unravel local biodiversity, unsettle ecological balance, undermine crucial ecosystem services, and rob the landscape of its natural environmental buffer. But there’s another loss, closer to home, that has been entirely overlooked—the chance for the hospital’s mentally ill patients to gain from the well-documented therapeutic effects of engaging with nature in their own backyard. Nature is a known healer. For centuries, people relied on its curative and palliative powers—from plant-based salves to mineral-rich soaks—to treat a wide range of ailments. But its formal role in modern mental health therapy is relatively recent. The term ‘ecopsychiatry’, for instance, was introduced in the late 1970s to examine how people’s relationship with their environment shaped their mental well-being. Its companion idea, ‘ecopsychology’, emerged in 1992 to bring ecological thinking to psychotherapy and foster lifestyles that were ecologically and psychologically healthy, as articulated in the essay Eco-psychiatry: Culture, Mental Health and Ecology with Special Reference to India. ‘Ecotherapy’, coined in 1996, went a step further, testing and shaping practical pathways for treatment. “Ecotherapy or nature therapy talks about using nature—which includes the natural environment—mountains, seas, forests—and animals to improve people’s mental health,” says Dr. Anjali Chhabria, Psychiatrist and former President of Bombay Psychiatric Society, who uses animal-assisted therapy in her own practice. “People have long been using nature for therapy, without knowing what it was called,” she says, recalling an incident from her childhood in which she witnessed mentally ill patients, in chains, being made to stand under a waterfall. Their attendants said it helped them feel better. “They didn’t know how it was helping, only that it did.” Anxiety and depression, for instance, can be alleviated by the sights, sounds, and tactile experiences of nature—and in some cases, such exposure may even allow for reduced psychiatric medication, she explains. People experience nature not only through their senses but also through non-sensory pathways, including phytoncides, negative air ions, and microbes, notes the paper Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye, adding that the science is still evolving. Nature sounds aid stress recovery; plant-derived scents enhance calmness, alertness, and mood; and human–animal interactions activate the oxytocinergic system, reducing social stress and producing positive endocrinological, physiological, and psychosocial effects. Phytoncides, volatile organic compounds released by plants, are thought to reduce stress and promote relaxation, while environmental microbes play a role in immunoregulation. Until a few years ago, patients at Thane’s Regional Mental Hospital experienced some of these effects firsthand. “We noticed that time spent in nature helped regulate patients’ emotions,” says Dr. Sandeep Divekar, a psychiatrist at the hospital. “Many of them enjoyed sitting among the trees and visiting the vegetable and flower gardens, where they gardened and grew vegetables that were used in the kitchen.” Supervised access to green spaces supplemented clinical treatment, although it wasn’t scripted into formal therapy. “Sensory-motor activities like digging and handling dirt had a calming effect on them, especially on those from rural backgrounds.” That, he admits, is no longer possible because of the ongoing construction. “We can’t take patients outdoors the way we did before, when the campus was pristine and peaceful.” Work to modernise and expand the hospital’s capacity from 1,850 to 3,278 beds is well underway and has already wiped out the gardens. The few remaining green patches are accessible only under staff escort, Dr. Divekar says. However, the current staff shortage makes such outings rare. The govt plans to turn the hospital into a state-of-the-art superspecialty mental health institution on the lines of Bengaluru’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). With wards being rebuilt, the hospital has only 669 in-patients at the moment. “Most long-stay patients have been shifted to govt-assisted private rehab centres,” says Dr. Netaji Mulik, Medical Superintendent, who says the redesigned complex will feature dedicated green corridors. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, mental disorders rose from the 12th to the 5th leading cause of health loss worldwide between 1990 and 2023. Recent data from the World Health Organization reveals that more than one billion people globally live with mental health disorders, the most common being anxiety and depression. These cut across gender, communities, and countries, exacting a social, economic, and human toll—an estimated 727,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2021. Urbanisation is recognised as a contributor to the rising mental health burden, one that natural environments—especially public green spaces with their preventive and restorative benefits—can help ease. These spaces are regarded as vital organs of a healthy city and are reflected in SDG 11.7 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Their erasure deprives citizens of these essential services, pushing those who can afford it to seek nature beyond city limits, notes psychotherapist Alaokika Motwane wryly. “Yet nature itself gives freely, to rich and poor alike,” she adds, “We need hospitals to treat illness, but instead of amplifying the built environment—which often fuels these problems—why not let nature intervene earlier and nip them in the bud.” When it comes to mental health therapy, they all caution that nature should complement formal treatment, not replace it. “One must use nature judiciously, deciding what will work and how best to optimise it, because every individual’s needs differ and solutions must be tailored accordingly,” says Dr. Chhabria, acknowledging the challenge of practicing ecotherapy in cities where ecosystems themselves are increasingly scarce. By the same token, the redevelopment of the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane, should be guided not by a standardising logic, but a particularising one. “Decentralising the institute is the answer,” recommends Dr. Divekar. “Instead of one large central institution, we need to have many smaller 100-bed hospitals in districts across the state. Then there would be no need to cut these trees.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFrom Missiles To Torpedoes, DRDO Outlines India’s Big Defence Push For Near-Term Battlefield EdgePM Modi Begins Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman Tour To Boost Ancient Ties, Expand India’s Global South RoleIndian Diaspora Members Prepare Cultural Performances Ahead Of PM Modi’s Jordan VisitFrom Power Cuts To 500 GW Grid, India Emerges As Global Data Centre Hub Under Modi: Piyush GoyalCong’s ‘Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi’ Slogan Sparks Uproar, NDA Seeks Apology As Parliament Grinds To Halt”Abusing PM Does Not Befit” Rijiju Seeks apology From Congress Over Anti-Modi SlogansYogi Adityanath Targets Nehru Over Kashmir, Links Historic Blunder To India’s Long Terror CrisisWho Is Sajid And Naveed Akram? Bondi Beach Attacker Father-Son Duo Shame Pakistan With Terror AttackLetter To Sonia Gandhi Costs Ex Odisha MLA Moquim Party Post As Congress Cites Anti Party ActivitiesSambit Patra Criticises Congress ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ Rally At Delhi’S Ramlila Maidan123Photostories6 Traditional egg curries from different parts of the countryAnkita Lokhande and Vicky Jain’s love story: From being close friends to getting remarried in EuropeUttarakhand Govt announces snow leopard tour to boost winter tourism; 5 other Indian spots to see the Big CatMrunal Thakur’s colourful Paithani saree is a bold love letter to Maharashtrian cultureFrom ethnic glam to chic streetwear: ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Farrhana Bhatt’s fashion diaryWhat is binge eating disorder and how to fix it?9 Auspicious Symbols According To Your Birth Date‘Housefull 5’, ‘Sikandar’, ‘Nadaaniyan’: 2025 films that struggled to make an impact at the box office7 animals whose names begin with the letter VPune’s double-decker flyover ready to decongest city, Metro Line-3 and town projects set to transform mobility123Hot PicksBondi beach attackCorona RemediesJetBlue flight VenezuelaGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDelhi SchoolMLB Trade RumorsNFL PlayoffPhilip River KidsLuka Modric and Vanja Bosnic Net WorthBoston Red SoxDelhi AQILebron JamesDelarum PouyabaharWho is Paige Shiver

Thane Regional Mental Hospital is undergoing redevelopment. This plan involves cutting down over half of its trees. This action will impact the environment and the therapeutic benefits nature provides to patients. Experts suggest decentralizing the hospital to preserve green spaces. The loss of these trees affects local biodiversity and urban well-being. What’s lost when hospitals lose their trees Shrieks serrate the evening air at the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane, as a flock of parakeets swoop into the overstory for a treetop council. Their agenda is easy enough to read, stapled to the trunk of every other tree across these 30 acres: a public notice inviting feedback and objections to the govt’s plan to cut and transplant trees affected by the redevelopment of this 124-year-old hospital complex. What the notice doesn’t spell out is that more than half the trees on the hospital grounds—724 of 1,614—have been marked for the axe, and some have reportedly already been felled. Such sweeping loss of green cover is a body blow to a city barrelling down the freeway to urbanisation. It threatens to unravel local biodiversity, unsettle ecological balance, undermine crucial ecosystem services, and rob the landscape of its natural environmental buffer. But there’s another loss, closer to home, that has been entirely overlooked—the chance for the hospital’s mentally ill patients to gain from the well-documented therapeutic effects of engaging with nature in their own backyard. Nature is a known healer. For centuries, people relied on its curative and palliative powers—from plant-based salves to mineral-rich soaks—to treat a wide range of ailments. But its formal role in modern mental health therapy is relatively recent. The term ‘ecopsychiatry’, for instance, was introduced in the late 1970s to examine how people’s relationship with their environment shaped their mental well-being. Its companion idea, ‘ecopsychology’, emerged in 1992 to bring ecological thinking to psychotherapy and foster lifestyles that were ecologically and psychologically healthy, as articulated in the essay Eco-psychiatry: Culture, Mental Health and Ecology with Special Reference to India. ‘Ecotherapy’, coined in 1996, went a step further, testing and shaping practical pathways for treatment. “Ecotherapy or nature therapy talks about using nature—which includes the natural environment—mountains, seas, forests—and animals to improve people’s mental health,” says Dr. Anjali Chhabria, Psychiatrist and former President of Bombay Psychiatric Society, who uses animal-assisted therapy in her own practice. “People have long been using nature for therapy, without knowing what it was called,” she says, recalling an incident from her childhood in which she witnessed mentally ill patients, in chains, being made to stand under a waterfall. Their attendants said it helped them feel better. “They didn’t know how it was helping, only that it did.” Anxiety and depression, for instance, can be alleviated by the sights, sounds, and tactile experiences of nature—and in some cases, such exposure may even allow for reduced psychiatric medication, she explains. People experience nature not only through their senses but also through non-sensory pathways, including phytoncides, negative air ions, and microbes, notes the paper Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye, adding that the science is still evolving. Nature sounds aid stress recovery; plant-derived scents enhance calmness, alertness, and mood; and human–animal interactions activate the oxytocinergic system, reducing social stress and producing positive endocrinological, physiological, and psychosocial effects. Phytoncides, volatile organic compounds released by plants, are thought to reduce stress and promote relaxation, while environmental microbes play a role in immunoregulation. Until a few years ago, patients at Thane’s Regional Mental Hospital experienced some of these effects firsthand. “We noticed that time spent in nature helped regulate patients’ emotions,” says Dr. Sandeep Divekar, a psychiatrist at the hospital. “Many of them enjoyed sitting among the trees and visiting the vegetable and flower gardens, where they gardened and grew vegetables that were used in the kitchen.” Supervised access to green spaces supplemented clinical treatment, although it wasn’t scripted into formal therapy. “Sensory-motor activities like digging and handling dirt had a calming effect on them, especially on those from rural backgrounds.” That, he admits, is no longer possible because of the ongoing construction. “We can’t take patients outdoors the way we did before, when the campus was pristine and peaceful.” Work to modernise and expand the hospital’s capacity from 1,850 to 3,278 beds is well underway and has already wiped out the gardens. The few remaining green patches are accessible only under staff escort, Dr. Divekar says. However, the current staff shortage makes such outings rare. The govt plans to turn the hospital into a state-of-the-art superspecialty mental health institution on the lines of Bengaluru’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). With wards being rebuilt, the hospital has only 669 in-patients at the moment. “Most long-stay patients have been shifted to govt-assisted private rehab centres,” says Dr. Netaji Mulik, Medical Superintendent, who says the redesigned complex will feature dedicated green corridors. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, mental disorders rose from the 12th to the 5th leading cause of health loss worldwide between 1990 and 2023. Recent data from the World Health Organization reveals that more than one billion people globally live with mental health disorders, the most common being anxiety and depression. These cut across gender, communities, and countries, exacting a social, economic, and human toll—an estimated 727,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2021. Urbanisation is recognised as a contributor to the rising mental health burden, one that natural environments—especially public green spaces with their preventive and restorative benefits—can help ease. These spaces are regarded as vital organs of a healthy city and are reflected in SDG 11.7 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Their erasure deprives citizens of these essential services, pushing those who can afford it to seek nature beyond city limits, notes psychotherapist Alaokika Motwane wryly. “Yet nature itself gives freely, to rich and poor alike,” she adds, “We need hospitals to treat illness, but instead of amplifying the built environment—which often fuels these problems—why not let nature intervene earlier and nip them in the bud.” When it comes to mental health therapy, they all caution that nature should complement formal treatment, not replace it. “One must use nature judiciously, deciding what will work and how best to optimise it, because every individual’s needs differ and solutions must be tailored accordingly,” says Dr. Chhabria, acknowledging the challenge of practicing ecotherapy in cities where ecosystems themselves are increasingly scarce. By the same token, the redevelopment of the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane, should be guided not by a standardising logic, but a particularising one. “Decentralising the institute is the answer,” recommends Dr. Divekar. “Instead of one large central institution, we need to have many smaller 100-bed hospitals in districts across the state. Then there would be no need to cut these trees.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFrom Missiles To Torpedoes, DRDO Outlines India’s Big Defence Push For Near-Term Battlefield EdgePM Modi Begins Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman Tour To Boost Ancient Ties, Expand India’s Global South RoleIndian Diaspora Members Prepare Cultural Performances Ahead Of PM Modi’s Jordan VisitFrom Power Cuts To 500 GW Grid, India Emerges As Global Data Centre Hub Under Modi: Piyush GoyalCong’s ‘Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi’ Slogan Sparks Uproar, NDA Seeks Apology As Parliament Grinds To Halt”Abusing PM Does Not Befit” Rijiju Seeks apology From Congress Over Anti-Modi SlogansYogi Adityanath Targets Nehru Over Kashmir, Links Historic Blunder To India’s Long Terror CrisisWho Is Sajid And Naveed Akram? Bondi Beach Attacker Father-Son Duo Shame Pakistan With Terror AttackLetter To Sonia Gandhi Costs Ex Odisha MLA Moquim Party Post As Congress Cites Anti Party ActivitiesSambit Patra Criticises Congress ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ Rally At Delhi’S Ramlila Maidan123Photostories6 Traditional egg curries from different parts of the countryAnkita Lokhande and Vicky Jain’s love story: From being close friends to getting remarried in EuropeUttarakhand Govt announces snow leopard tour to boost winter tourism; 5 other Indian spots to see the Big CatMrunal Thakur’s colourful Paithani saree is a bold love letter to Maharashtrian cultureFrom ethnic glam to chic streetwear: ‘Bigg Boss 19’ fame Farrhana Bhatt’s fashion diaryWhat is binge eating disorder and how to fix it?9 Auspicious Symbols According To Your Birth Date‘Housefull 5’, ‘Sikandar’, ‘Nadaaniyan’: 2025 films that struggled to make an impact at the box office7 animals whose names begin with the letter VPune’s double-decker flyover ready to decongest city, Metro Line-3 and town projects set to transform mobility123Hot PicksBondi beach attackCorona RemediesJetBlue flight VenezuelaGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDelhi SchoolMLB Trade RumorsNFL PlayoffPhilip River KidsLuka Modric and Vanja Bosnic Net WorthBoston Red SoxDelhi AQILebron JamesDelarum PouyabaharWho is Paige Shiver

Vamsikrishna06 mins mins

What’s lost when hospitals lose their trees Shrieks serrate the evening air at the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane, as a flock of parakeets swoop into the overstory for a treetop council. Their agenda is easy enough to read, stapled to the trunk of every other tree across these 30 acres: a public notice inviting…

Read More
Updated: Dec 15, 2025, 19:12 IST

Updated: Dec 15, 2025, 19:12 IST

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi greets the gathering during the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’, at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: The footballing god descended upon the city, and the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour, which had begun in disorder, found its finish in Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where fans…

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‘Look them in the eye and fight’: Ben Stokes delivers brutal message before crucial Ashes Test | Cricket News

‘Look them in the eye and fight’: Ben Stokes delivers brutal message before crucial Ashes Test | Cricket News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

England’s captain Ben Stokes (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard) England captain Ben Stokes has urged his side to dig deep and show greater fight as they head into a must win third Ashes Test against Australia, with the series slipping away at 2-0. Speaking ahead of the Adelaide Test starting Wednesday, Stokes said his players must respond…

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H-1B visa fee hike: 20 states sue Trump administration over 0,000 fee, affecting tech, healthcare

H-1B visa fee hike: 20 states sue Trump administration over $100,000 fee, affecting tech, healthcare

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta announces the multi-state lawsuit challenging Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee, affecting tech and healthcare sectors. (Getty Images) Twenty states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions, a move that has alarmed tech companies and healthcare employers. The lawsuit, announced…

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‘Rekha believes she belongs to Amitabh Bachchan in spirit and he belongs to her,’ says her friend revealing why their relationship ended: ‘When he joined politics…’

‘Rekha believes she belongs to Amitabh Bachchan in spirit and he belongs to her,’ says her friend revealing why their relationship ended: ‘When he joined politics…’

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Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan make one of the most iconic onscreen pairs in Hindi cinema. They have worked together in films like ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’, ‘Suhaag’, ‘Do Anjaane’, ‘Mr Natwarlal’, ‘Ram Balram’.Perhaps, that also had to do with rumours of their relationship offscreen. They were always linked to each other, though they’ve never admitted to…

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Indian Railways: Special trains from Dhanbad to Chandigarh and Delhi extended until January 2026 |

Indian Railways: Special trains from Dhanbad to Chandigarh and Delhi extended until January 2026 |

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Indian Railways has decided to extend the periodicity of several special trains to facilitate passenger convenience. Going by the latest press release by the Indian Railways dated December 15, the schedule of certain special trains have been revised, and they will continue to run on their existing routes, timings and days of operation. According to…

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Watch: CM Nitish Kumar pulls down woman’s hijab at event; Cong, RJD slam ‘vile act’

Watch: CM Nitish Kumar pulls down woman’s hijab at event; Cong, RJD slam ‘vile act’

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: A video from a government event in Patna on Monday triggered a political row after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was seen removing the hijab of a woman AYUSH doctor while handing over appointment letters.The incident occurred at a programme held at the Chief Minister’s residence, where appointment letters were being distributed to…

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‘God only created men and women’: Oklahoma student given zero for essay on gender sparks backlash | World News

‘God only created men and women’: Oklahoma student given zero for essay on gender sparks backlash | World News

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What began as a routine homework assignment at the University of Oklahoma has escalated into a national controversy, drawing in politicians, activist groups and cable news. Samantha Fulnecky, a junior on a pre-med track, received a zero on a psychology essay about gender stereotypes after grounding her arguments in Christian beliefs. She says the grade…

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