Many people are surprised to learn that this is also considered an abuse as it prevents other patients from getting the care they need. Bear in mind that this does not mean that inpatients are expected to sit quietly and wait for their medication like good little girls and boys. Mentally ill or not adults are adults and have a right to express their needs, fears, distress or whatever. They're also entitled to friendly conversation and many clients do strike up friendships with professionals as a result. It's simply that attempts to monopolize staff time for non-genuine reasons cause problems for patients and staff alike.
Some clients have an expectation that mental health staff are there to be assaulted.
They too become surprised at the reaction they receive. Staff who are attacked by florid schizophrenics as a result of a genuine delusional state tend to be quite philosophical about it. Staff attacked by people who simply want to prove a point or by those who just enjoy hurting people tend to press charges. Mental health professionals are not anywhere near so stupid as many of their clients believe them to be. As a rule, however, they will work hard to help the genuinely ill so long as the client is also prepared to help themselves.