Saad Tlaa used painting to cope with depression while in detention at Villawood Saad Tlaa at home in West Croydon, in Adelaide. As an asylum seeker in detention, Saad used instant coffee and turmeric to paint with. WHEN Saad Tlaa was in Villawood, two of his friends committed suicide, and he turned to art to escape his own depression. Mr Tlaa is an Adelaide artist and a refugee from Iraq. He says his art has saved him, not just while he was in danger in his homeland, but while he was in high-security detention in Sydney. He says it is impossible to avoid depression in Villawood, but he battled it with painting. With no art materials, he started painting with instant coffee and turmeric. Life in Villawood is like you are in jail. You are between the four corners with limited space to move," he says of the place he spent 15 months in. When you are in detention you are hanging. You don't know your situation, where you'll end up. It's natural to get depressed. You can't escape from that. Saad Tlaa's coffee drawing of palm trees and the Sydney Opera House, drawn in detention in Villawood in 2010 Picture: Saad Tlaa Painting has helped. It is where I escape. Others were not so lucky. "Two of my friends committed suicide when I was there," he said. This is the strange thing. Sometimes you see a normal person, the next day he's hung himself. Saad Tlaa, an Iraqi political refugee, artist and qualified architect, used pen and colour pencil for this artwork, created while in detention. Picture: Saad Tlaa Now Mr Tlaa is living freely in Adelaide with his wife and four children. He is studying English, plans to go to university, and is hoping to exhibit his work. His story is part of a new online documentary at sbs.com.au/detentioncentre. Psychologists have raised serious concerns about the mental health of detainees. There have been many incidents of self harm such as cutting, as well as suicides and attempted suicides. If you need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au . A coffee painting of Saad Tlaa's three daughters in traditional dress.