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Aims Public education may constitute an effective early intervention strategy to reduce delays in the treatment of psychotic disorders and thereby improve outcome. The purpose of this project was to design, implement and validate a curriculum on early intervention in psychosis for youth workers. Method A training intervention on early intervention in psychosis was designed and delivered through 1-day workshops. Objective and self-perceived competencies were measured before and after the intervention and at 3-month follow up. An additional question was added to assess social distancing from subjects with psychosis. Results Compared with baseline, the training programme resulted in an improvement in problem identification and symptom recognition skills for vignettes on psychosis ( P < 0.05), and in advice on help-seeking behaviour ( P < 0.001) and in self-perceived competencies ( P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a reduction in social distancing ( P < 0.001). These desired outcomes were found to be sustained over a 3-month period. Conclusions The training course improved case recognition skills and advice on help-seeking behaviour and resulted in reduction in social distancing in this cohort of youth workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]