Ride Don't Hide supports Canadians to open up and seek help

TORONTO, June 20, 2018 /CNW/ - With recent celebrity suicides on everybody's mind, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is encouraging Canadians to fight stigma and bring mental illness into the open through its upcoming Ride Don't Hide event. On June 24, thousands will cycle in over 30 communities across Canada to spark discussion and raise funds for essential mental health programs and services.

"The stigma associated with mental illness in Canada is more than just uncomfortable—people with mental illness tell us that how others judge them is one of their greatest barriers to a complete and satisfying life," says Dr. Patrick Smith, clinical psychologist and national CEO, CMHA.

According to research, mental health stigma comes in two forms: social stigma is a form of prejudice and discrimination towards those with mental illness or mental health problems; self-stigma is the internalizing of these perceptions of discrimination, which can cause feelings of shame and lead to poorer treatment outcomes.

One man speaking out loudly about his own mental health is Ride Don't Hide ambassador Ryan Martin, who is cycling 8,000 kms across Canada because he wants everyone dealing with mental illnesses to receive the support, care and attention they deserve. Martin is chronicling his ride online at www.mindcycle.ca and on Instagram @mindcycle_canada

"I want to instill confidence in people struggling with mental illnesses and let them know that, with the right support, tools, and mindset, they can achieve anything," says Martin, a 23-year-old from Guelph, Ontario, who has anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. "I want to help people build the confidence to open up and reach out to someone they feel they can talk to."

Joining Martin in his national effort to raise funds and attention are over 7,500 local riders and thousands more Ride Don't Hide community supporters and volunteers.

Canadians can donate, volunteer or register to cycle in a Ride Don't Hide event in their own community by registering in person at their local CMHA branch or region, or by visiting www.ridedonthide.com.

"It doesn't matter who you are or how many successes you have—nobody is immune to mental health issues or challenges. Recent deaths by suicide of much-loved and well-known celebrities underlines that it's difficult to truly know what someone is going through," says Smith. "That's why we so honour and appreciate the voices of Ryan Martin and the countless community members who are speaking up and cycling in plain sight so their stories can be seen and heard."

About Ride Don't Hide

Ride Don't Hide is the Canadian Mental Health Association's flagship fundraising campaign focused on reducing stigma and raising money for mental health. In its seventh year, Ride Don't Hide is a national event held on June 24^th in 31 communities, across seven provinces, from Tofino, BC, to St. John's, NL. The Ride has raised $6 million in funding for mental health programs and services in communities across Canada. For more information, visit www.ridedonthide.com

About the Canadian Mental Health Association

Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province, CMHA provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive. For more information, visit www.cmha.ca

LONDON, ON, June 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are a major burden to the healthcare system. A new real-world study published in Pulmonary Therapy, indicates significant reductions in costs when using  the Aerobika* oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device in the postoperative care setting.¹ The retrospective database analysis including 288 patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic or upper abdominal surgery suggests that use of the Aerobika* OPEP device in addition to standard of care (incentive spirometry, IS) was associated with fewer re-hospitalizations, shorter hospital stay and lower costs compared with patients using standard of care alone.

At 30 days post-discharge, significantly fewer patients in the Aerobika* OPEP device cohort were re-hospitalized (13.9 vs. 22.9%; p=0.042), and mean length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (1.25±4.04 days vs. 2.60±8.24 days; p=0.047) compared with the IS cohort. Costs due to hospitalizations were 80% lower in the Aerobika* OPEP device group (p=0.001).

The burden of PPCs, especially in patients undergoing abdominal, thoracic or cardiac surgery, is substantial:

• death rate is higher compared with patients who don't have PPCs (at 30 days mortality is up to 10 times higher, and at 90 days up to 20 times higher)
• resource use and costs are significantly increased (mainly due to longer length of hospital stay); a US database study of over 700,000 patients predicted that PPCs could lead to an additional 9,500 deaths, 92,000 extra ICU admissions and overall added costs to the US of US$3.42 billion.²

The causes of PPCs may be related to, among other things, shallow breathing and reduced airway clearance, therefore physical therapy techniques that increase lung volume and clearance have been recommended to reduce the risk and severity of PPCs. One such technique is incentive spirometry (IS), which encourages the patient to take long, slow breaths by inhaling through a device to raise a ball or piston.³ The use of IS is common in clinical practice although there appears to be little evidence to support its value.^3,4 Another commonly used intervention to prevent and treat PPCs is positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy, which involves breathing against expiratory resistance.

The Aerobika* OPEP device is an easy-to-use, drug-free oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device; when the patient exhales through the device, intermittent resistance creates a unique pressure-oscillation dynamic, which expands the airways and helps expel mucus to the upper airways where it can be coughed out. Clinical trial and real-world data have shown that the Aerobika* OPEP device increases lung volume, reduces hyperinflation and improves airway clearance in patients with COPD⁵ or bronchiectasis,⁶ as well as reducing exacerbations in patients with COPD.⁷ These observations suggested a potential value for the device in preventing PPCs, leading the authors to conduct this retrospective real-world database study.

Co-author Dr. Jason Suggett commented that "based on the study findings, and taking into consideration both the low cost and low risk safety profile of the Aerobika* OPEP device, I would suggest that it could be beneficial to include as standard of care in all such post-operative patients", noting that future studies are warranted to further define the benefits. He went on to add "The fact that patients in the Aerobika* OPEP device group in our study incurred lower healthcare costs in the 30-day period following discharge (mainly as a result of fewer complications requiring readmission) is particularly relevant as providers and insurers look to reduce early rehospitalization".

About Trudell Medical International (TMI)

Trudell Medical International designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of medical devices and is home to a global Aerosol Lab and Research Center. From the flagship AeroChamber^* Brand of Valved Holding Chamber and the latest award-winning Aerobika* OPEP device, to custom designed products and systems, our best-in-class respiratory management products have been sold in over 110 countries. Their efficacy has been validated in hundreds of peer-reviewed articles from various medical journals.  www.trudellmed.com.

About the Aerobika^* OPEP device  

The Aerobika* device is a hand-held, robust, easy-to-use, drug-free oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device designed to help expel mucus from the lungs, expand airways and enhance drug deposition. When the patient exhales through the device, intermittent resistance creates a unique pressure-oscillation dynamic, which expands the airways, helps expel the mucus to the upper airways where it can be coughed out. The Aerobika* OPEP device is designed to function independent of angle of use or flow rate, and allows for a direct aerosol pathway for patients using a nebulizer for medication delivery. The Aerobika* OPEP device has been shown to significantly improve forced vital capacity (FVC), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score in COPD patients.⁵ Real-world evidence has shown that the Aerobika* OPEP device can significantly reduce the recurrence of exacerbations of COPD in the crucial 30-day period following hospitalization or emergency room visits,⁷ with associated cost reductions.⁸ The Aerobika* OPEP device is available in Canada, Mexico, and select European countries including the UK and Germany through Trudell Medical International and in the US via Monaghan Medical Corporation.

About the study

This retrospective database study utilized patient data stored in IQVIA's proprietary Hospital Charge Detail Master (CDM) database. The CDM database manages daily transactional patient charges from over 650 hospitals from 46 states in the USA, covering 7 million annual inpatient stays and 60 million annual outpatient visits. A total of 887 cardiac, thoracic or upper abdominal surgery patients hospitalized between 1 September 2013 and 30 April 2017 were identified to have used the Aerobika* OPEP device (in addition to standard of care, incentive spirometry), of whom 144 matched the selection criteria. The comparison cohort was144 propensity-score matched subjects who had used IS alone.

* trade-marks and registered trade-marks of Trudell Medical International © TMI 2018. All rights reserved.

1. Burudpakdee C, Near AM, Huang H, Coppolo D, Kushnarev V, Suggett J. A Real-World Evidence Study Assessing the Impact of Adding the Aerobika^* Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Device to Standard of Care Upon Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs in Post-Operative Patients. Pulmonary Therapy. 2018.
2. Linde-Zwirble W, Bloom J, Mecca R, Hansell D. Postoperative pulmonary complications in adult elective surgery patients in the US: severity, outcomes and resources use. Critical Care. 2010;14 (Suppl 1):P210.
3. Restrepo RD, Wettstein R, Wittnebel L, Tracy M. Incentive spirometry: 2011. Respiratory care. 2011;56(10):1600-1604.
4. Carvalho CR, Paisani DM, Lunardi AC. Incentive spirometry in major surgeries: a systematic review. Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (Sao Carlos (Sao Paulo, Brazil)). 2011;15(5):343-350.
5. Svenningsen S, Paulin GA, Sheikh K, et al. Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD. 2016;13(1):66-74.
6. Svenningsen S, Guo F, McCormack DG, Parraga G. Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis: Regional Abnormalities and Response to Airway Clearance Therapy Using Pulmonary Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Academic radiology. 2017;24(1):4-12.
7. Burudpakdee C, Seetasith A, Dunne P, et al. A real-world study of 30-day exacerbation outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient managed with Aerobika^*OPEP. Pulmonary Therapeutics. 2017.
8. Khoudigian-Sinani S, Kowal S, Suggett JA, Coppolo DP. Cost-effectiveness of the Aerobika* oscillating positive expiratory pressure device in the management of COPD exacerbations. International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2017;12:3065-3073.

/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES/

WINNIPEG, June 20, 2018 /CNW/ - DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (TSXV: NINE) ("Delta 9" or the "Company") applauds the federal Government of Canada and the Senate for the historic and courageous vote on June 19, making Canada the first industrialized country in the world to legalize cannabis.

The Senate confirmed legalization yesterday, confirming the Liberal government's legalization plans, and sending the historic Bill C45 for Royal Assent, paving the way for retail sales of recreational cannabis in the fall.

"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government had the foresight and the courage to do what no other government in the industrialized world has done," said Delta 9 CEO John Arbuthnot. "We believe legalization is going to benefit the people and the governments of Canada with new jobs, new revenue and new sources of taxation.

"Just as importantly, I believe the legislation will prevent Canadians from being stigmatized for their entire lives by criminal charges, and will in the long term poise Canada for global leadership in the world's fastest growing new industry."

Delta 9 management says the Company is prepared for the opening of retail stores and distribution in its home province of Manitoba and beyond. "One of the questions we're getting a lot is whether we can have retail outlets and online retail up and running by September," said Arbuthnot. "I can assure our customers that we are ready to put hammer to nail on our retail stores immediately, and that our buildup of inventory for the retail market is on track.

"We've been ready to run for months, and today we heard the starting pistol."

The Company says Delta 9 has selected locations for retail sites in Manitoba, and will be working with its partners at Westleaf Cannabis Inc. (Westleaf) and Canopy Growth Corporation (Canopy) to extend its retail operations across the country.

"Delta 9 has three primary strategies for our retail and distribution over the coming months," Arbuthnot explained. "We will be selling directly through our retail stores and Canopy Growth stores in Manitoba; we'll be selling nationally online through our site and Tweed Main Street, and in retail through Westleaf in Saskatchewan and in Alberta, where we already have a second production facility. We feel very prepared for the rollout of cannabis retail."

Arbuthnot also commented on the controversial decision to allow Canadians to grow cannabis at home for their own consumption, a measure opposed by the Manitoba government.

"We understand that this could create a headache for law enforcement, but we at Delta 9 don't feel it will be a major factor affecting either the black market sale of cannabis, or overall sales of legal cannabis from Licensed Producers," he said. "Canadians have been making their own wine and beer at home for many years, but those same people still buy alcohol products at liquor stores. We believe the vast majority of people will choose to buy cannabis products that are professionally produced at a Licensed Producer."

The Company states its next step will be to seek a decision from the Manitoba government on the number of retail stores that can be opened before the end of the year.

About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.
Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical marijuana pursuant to the ACMPR and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NINE".

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Company's future business plans and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: (i) Delta 9's expansion plans; (ii) Delta 9's production of cannabis; (iii) approvals for Delta 9's production facilities by Health Canada; (iv) demand for Delta 9's products; and (v) Delta 9's cost to produce its grow pods. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including that Delta 9's currently contemplated expansion and development plans may cease or otherwise change, Delta 9's production of cannabis may be lower than expected, Delta 9 may not obtain the required approvals from Health Canada, demand for Delta 9's products may be lower than anticipated, Delta 9's cost to produce its grow pods may be higher than expected and all other risk factors set forth in the filing statement of Delta 9 dated October 25, 2017 which has been filed on SEDAR. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Art of Living Foundation will host a series of meditation masterclasses in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary

TORONTO, June 19, 2018 /CNW/ - The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) today announced that global peace ambassador and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will journey to Canada to introduce its Unveiling Infinity tour, a meditation masterclass designed to share ancient techniques of meditation and awareness. For the first time in Canada, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will personally guide Canadians through an authentic meditation experience and step-by-step practice to help participants experience a sense of deep inner peace. An immersive workshop spanning six hours over three days, Unveiling Infinity will make stops in Toronto (July 9-11), Montreal (July 12-14) and Calgary (July 17-19).

"Beginning a meditation practice can be challenging when your mind is contemplating the stresses of daily life. It is often those people who lead busy lives and have demanding schedules that have a greater need to meditate, and stand to benefit from the clearing of the mind," said Bhavesh Tolani, who sits on the Executive Board for the Art of Living foundation. "Our hope is to teach and help Canadians understand that you can take care of all your responsibilities and at the same time, find inner calm. Everyone wants to be happy and for that, they need to go deep inside."

According to Statistics Canada, one quarter of Canadians find most days are 'quite' or 'extremely' stressful, with women reporting higher levels of stress. A proven tool to manage stress, meditation offers an outlet to find perspective on issues that create frustration, impatience and worry, reducing anxiety, depression and pain.

The Unveiling Infinity workshop will help Canadians start or deepen their meditation practice by sharing powerful and insightful techniques from an ancient scripture called Vigyan Bhairav. Written more than 5000 years ago, Vigyan Bhairav or the Science of Consciousness, describes 112 meditation techniques for individuals to experience a sense of harmony with their inner being to remove deep-rooted stress and rejuvenate body and mind. The ancient text is written in a cryptic manner, making it's true essence hard to understand and requiring the explanation of a meditation master like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

"Unveiling Infinity is about reaching a higher state of being - a state of deep rest and stillness," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and guide for Unveiling Infinity. "This is the essence of ancient scriptures on Vigyan Bhairav."

Throughout the three-day workshop, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will walk Canadians through practical wisdom from the ancient text that they can apply to their urban life today and leading them through several guided meditation experiences to help them kick-start or deepen their own practice. In addition, they'll be invited to continue their journey with the Art of Living Foundation post-Unveiling Infinity to experience a host of personal development courses, including the Happiness Program, which teaches the Sudharshan Kriya, proven by over 70 independent studies to provide a comprehensive range of health benefits. Participants will leave the workshop with learnings on how to relax both mind and body, eliminate deep-rooted stress, sharpen their intellect, experience enhanced creativity and more.

Workshop Locations & Dates

• Toronto: July 9 -11 at Roy Thomson Hall
• Montreal: July 12-14 at Théâtre Symposia
• Calgary: July 17-19 at Jack Singer Concert Hall

Ticket Pricing

• Tier One Ticket (Premium Seating) - $695
• Tier Two Ticket (Preferred Seating) - $495
• Tier Three Ticket (General Seating) - $295

For additional programming details and Unveiling Infinity ticket information, please visit: http://unveilinginfinity.ca.

Social media links
Toronto Facebook & Instagram
Montreal Facebook & Instagram
Calgary Facebook  & Instagram

About Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian and spiritual leader, an ambassador of peace and human values. Through his life and work, Sri Sri has inspired millions around the world with a vision of a stress free, violence free world. These practices have proven to be effective globally and at all levels of society.

Through a myriad of programs and teachings, a network of organizations, and a presence across 155 countries, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has reached an estimated 370 million people through his unique, impactful programs that empower, equip and transform individuals to tackle life's challenges.

His overarching message is that the world is one family, and that diverse religions, cultures, and traditions are rooted in the same human values of love, compassion, peace, and non-violence.

About The Art of Living Foundation
The Art of Living Foundation is the largest volunteer-based non-governmental organization (NGO) in the world. The Foundation's service projects, programs on meditation, yoga and stress elimination have benefited millions of people from all walks of life, cultures and traditions.