Because the emotional aspects of cancer are just as hard, and often harder, than the physical aspects, even the most optimistic among us are susceptible to depression. Too often, people are reluctant to seek help and a treatable condition goes untreated.

In the video below, which recently aired on the PBS show A Wider World, Dr. Michelle Riba, chair of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center PsychOncology Program, and survivor Mel Majoros discuss depression, and Mel talks candidly about her own struggle with it. Together, they offer tips to cope with and combat this all too common condition.

Mel and I talked in greater detail about depression when I turned the tables on her and recently interviewed her on her own radio show. Listen here.

Dr. Michelle Riba is professor and associate chair for Integrated Medical and Psychiatric Services, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan; associate director, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR); director, PsychOncology Program, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center; associate director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center; past president, American Psychiatric Association; secretary for Scientific Publications, World Psychiatric Association.

Mel Majoros is a breast cancer survivor, host of "The Cancer Warrior" on Empoweradio.com and author of the award-winning "The Cancer Warrior" blog.

Betsy de Parry is the author of Adventures In Cancer Land and the producer of the Candid Cancer reports which air on the PBS show A Wider World in this area on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. on WTVS. Find her on Facebook, email her or follow Candid Cancer on Twitter.