The article mentions talking about wanting to die, cutting oneself with razor blades, drinking through the night and doing cocaine. And that's before treatment, so it is not at fault. That's not something to take lightly, especially combined together.

Also, that story somehow reminds me of someone I know who really is bipolar, she looked somewhat normal until she went completely bonkers, burning down most of her stuff at home, etc... It is serious. She now takes mood stabilizers (lithium) and lives a healthy life. So don't dismiss psychiatry.