I guess it depends on the type of humor, or how it's being used.

Humor can go a long way towards helping people deal with uncomfortable/painful issues; it relaxes people, helps them deal with tensions, fears, anxieties, pain, etc. This is quite healthy.

Some examples:

When my grandmother died (my mother's mother) we joked constantly, even at the funeral home as we picked out her casket. Joking helped up deal with the grief and loss.

When I had an anxiety attack, joking about it as it was happening helped me calm down.

My mother has dementia and is doing all kinds of crazy things lately which we joke about with her. We also joke about it all amongst ourselves, away from her, to help deal with the pain of loosing her as we used to know her, and the stress of living with someone who is acting so crazy.

In fact, most professional comedians will tell you that their humor comes out of their pain and helps them deal with it all.

But humor that is mean, just to be mean. Not okay.

--Ceara1010