BOSTON -- A new social networking site designed for military veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan has made its way to the Internet.

The site, www.communityofveterans.org, aims to serve the the 1.7 million men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nearly 20 percent of those vets have returned reporting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, according to a RAND study.

Because untreated mental health conditions can cause or aggravate other problems for veterans, including high rates of unemployment, substance abuse divorce, homelessness, child abuse and suicide, the site provides an online forum where veterans can communicate, share their experiences and access resources.

Even though they number in the millions, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans currently make up less than 1 percent of the U.S. population, which can contribute to a sense of isolation once they are home, making connecting with other vets challenging, according to site creators.

The Web site is backed by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.iava.org), the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has more than 125,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide.